Signs of life and hope stir in New Orleans

BUSINESS owners were issued passes into New Orleans city centre yesterday to retrieve vital records or equipment, as the city slowly stirred back to life two weeks after Katrina hit.

There were signs of life after a weekend in which trash collection began, the airport reopened to cargo flights and the waste water treatment plant was expected to be running by last night.

Military airplanes were set to begin spraying the region yesterday, with standing water expected to worsen Louisiana’s already considerable mosquito problem.