1.
SV DAMAGED VEHICLES IN NEW ORLEANS. (2 SHOTS).
0.08

2.
SV RESCUE WORKER NEAR HOUSE.
0.12

3.
SV STREET SCENE IN OLD FRENCH QUARTER
0.17

4.
SV FLOOD WATER.
0.21

5.
SV TREES BLOWING.
0.25

6.
SV PEOPLE KNEE-DEEP IN WATER.
0.33

7.
SV VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODWATER.
0.50

8.
SV WIND BLOWS TREES (2 SHOTS).
0.56

9.
SV FLOOD WATER ROUND HOUSE.
1.00

10.
SV CARAVAN OVER-TURNED.
1.04

11.
TV HOUSES SURROUNDED BY FLOOD WATER (2 SHOTS)
1.18

12.
TRAVEL SHOT PAST DAMAGE.
1.21

13.
LV BATON ROUGE ... SHOWS FLOODED HOUSES (2 SHOTS)
1.35

14.
LV DAMAGED BUILDINGS
1.40

15.
SLV POLICE VEHICLE UNDER FLOODED BRIDGE FOLLOWED BY HEAVY LORRIES.
1.48



Initials PC/VIS-TELE/AW/ES PC/VIS-TELE/AW/BB


TELERECORDING

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: LOUISIANA VICTIMS OF 'HURRICANE HILDA' TODAY (MONDAY) BEGAN CLEANING UP THE DEVASTATION AND COUNTING THEIR LOSSES AS COLD NORTHERLY WINDS PUSHED THE KILLER -- NOW REDUCED BY AMERICA'S WEATHER BUREAU TO A "TROPICAL STORM" -- INTO THE GULF OF MEXICO OFF THE FLORIDA COAST.

YESTERDAY, THE HURRICANE ROARED INLAND, SPINNING OFF TORNADOES IN HER SWEEPING PATH ACROSS SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA AND SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI. AT LEAST 35 PEOPLE HAVE DIED, MOST OF THEM VICTIMS OF THESE TORNADOES.

WINDS OF 75 TO 80 MILES AN HOUR (121-129 KPH) HIT BATON ROUGE DURING THE NIGHT. TOPPING TREES, BLOCKING ROADS AND PARALYSING THE ELECTRICITY SYSTEM IN SOME PARTS OF THE CITY. FLOODING MADE MANY STREETS IMPASSABLE. AT LEAST 65 HOMES HAD TO BE EVACUATED AROUND THE LOUISIANA CAPITAL AFTER 9 INCHES OF RAIN FELL.

AT LAROSE, A TOWN OF 5,000, 21 PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND NEARLY TWO-HUNDRED INJURED WHEN A TORNADO WHIRLED THROUGH. AT THE TOWN OF EARTH THE HURRICANE FELLED A WATER TOWER, KILLING EIGHT CIVIL DEFENCE WORKERS IN THE CITY HALL.

'HURRICANE HILDA' DESTROYED NEARLY HALF OF LOUISIANA'S 100-MILLION DOLLAR SUGAR-CROP, MILLIONS MORE IN PROPERTY AND AN ESTIMATED 100,000 TELEPHONES KNOCKED OUT AND POWER LINES BROKEN.

PRESIDENT JOHNSON HAS DECLARED THE WHOLE DISASTER-HIT REGION AS ELIGIBLE FOR GOVERNMENT AID.