Where was help? Homeland Security wouldn't let it in.

8:04 P.M. - (AP): American Red Cross officials who wanted to deliver food, water and supplies to New Orleans residents stranded after Hurricane Katrina were turned down last week in the first days after the storm because of security concerns.

Katrina came ashore Monday, and Col. Jay Mayeaux, deputy director of the state Office of Homeland Security, said he asked Red Cross officials not to enter the city when he received the request on Friday, requesting instead that they wait at least 24 hours until security was more stable in the area.

"It was a military operation. We were asked by the military not to go in, and we abided by that request," said Vic Howell, CEO of the Capital Area Chapter of the American Red Cross.

The Red Cross did hand out supplies in many of New Orleans' neighboring, hurricane-ravaged parishes and on Saturday went into New Orleans, according to Howell.