New Orleans Death Toll Lower than Feared - CBS4 - WHBF Quad Cities, IL-IA News Weather Sports

New Orleans Death Toll Lower than Feared

For the first time in nearly two weeks, 82-year old Juanita Cannon took a breath of fresh air, saved bya California rescue team after calling 911 from her New Orleans home on Friday.

"We actually found Juanita in the back bedroom," said task force member Jim Thosper. "She had been there since the hurricane hit."

Anotehr life saved, another success story. And there seem to be more and more of them lately.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers now say 'The Big Easy' will be free of the toxic flood waters sooner than expected. They think they can drain most of the city in one month instead of three.

"We've had extraordinarily good luck from Mother Nature for once," said federal official Thad Allen, "there haven't been any additional rain or storms."

And the initial predicted death toll of 10,000 in the city of New Orleans has been revised.  So far, there are just over 150 official deaths and, while they do expect to find many more bodies, they say perhaps not as many as first thought.

Countless animals were killed by the storm or have died from drinking the dirty water but many have been rescued and are waiting to be reunitied with their owners.

"I was just overjoyed," said Heidi Kaufman from New Orleans, "beause I feel like the reason my pets mean so much to me is because my children lost their house, their school, their furniture, their best friends, and so the pets were all they had left."

Authorities say they now have control over the city, much safer than it was just after the storm.  In fact, in one area, some fought the evacuation orders and won.  And that calls for celebration the only way they know how - Mardi Gras style.