WASHINGTON, Aug. 31 (UPI) -- The heads of several federal departments and agencies described plans in Washington Wednesday for a coordinated federal response to Hurricane Katrina.
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said progress has been made in rescuing people stranded by flooding in the Gulf Coast region, and in evacuating people to safer ground. He said the process of assessing damage, draining flooded areas and repairing damage to the region's infrastructure will be difficult.
"I think the time scale is going to be measured in a longer period," said Chertoff.
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Stephen Johnson has issued a temporary Clean Air Act waiver, relaxing gasoline and diesel fuel standards, to "ensure that fuel is available throughout the country."
Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman said his department is processing more energy company requests for loans from the U.S. strategic oil reserve.
"This is something that should materially change the supplies of gasoline in our country," he said.
Officials announced plans to send water, ice, food, generators and other supplies to the region.
Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt declared a public health emergency for the Gulf Region and announced plans to erect as many as 40 medical shelters with 10,000 beds and 4,000 medical personnel to treat people injured or sickened by the catastrophe.
