The President of the United States has vowed to make the area devastated by Hurricane Katrina more vibrant than ever, as he attempted to quell criticism of his relief operation.
Speaking in his weekly radio address to the nation, George W Bush said America would overcome the ordeal and would be stronger for it.
He also used the address to remember the fourth anniversary of the 11 September attacks.
President Bush said Americans were pulling together to help the victims of Katrina, just like they helped the victims of the terrorist attack on World Trade Center and the Pentagon in 2001.
Meanwhile, the most senior US Emergency Official, Coast Guard Vice-Admiral Thad Allen, has been taking initial briefings on the relief and recovery effort in New Orleans.
Vice-Admiral Allen is replacing FEMA director, Michael Brown, who had been facing strong criticism of his handling of the disaster.
Mr Brown is being sent back to Washington from Louisiana but remains head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
However, Democratic leaders have said the move is not enough.
In a letter to President Bush, they claim Mr Brown did not have the ability or the experience to oversee a Federal response of such magnitude.
The head of Homeland Security, Michael Chertoff, said he wanted Mr Brown to concentrate on managing the agency nationally.
Meanwhile, initial sweeps of New Orleans indicate the death toll in the city may not be as catastrophic as first believed. Earlier estimates put the death toll as high as 10,000.
With 14,000 troops on patrol, a city official claimed New Orleans is now fully secure and officials hope to restore power to the city's central business district within seven days.
Americans have rallied to give an unprecedented amount of aid in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. They have already pledged the equivalent of €470 million.
Last night six major television networks in the US joined together for an hour-long fund-raising show to help those affected by the Hurricane.
