Head of Federal Katrina Relief Effort Replaced

Death Toll May Not Be as High as Originally Feared

By William Branigin and Spencer S. Hsu

Washington Post Staff Writers
Friday, September 9, 2005; 3:57 PM

Federal and local authorities today launched a concerted operation to recover the bodies of people who perished in New Orleans from the effects of Hurricane Katrina, and the nation's homeland security chief announced the replacement of Michael D. Brown as the top federal official on the scene of the Gulf Coast relief effort.

Officials in New Orleans wrapped up a search for survivors and began the body-recovery operation amid indications that the death toll may not be as high as previously feared.