<P> Congress approved the Katrina Emergency Tax Relief Act of 2005 for Hurricane Katrina victims, which included the elimination of the early withdrawal penalty on retirement accounts, forgiven debts not being taxable, and more . </P> <P> Karl Rove is reported to have been put in charge of reconstruction projects . </P> <P> President Bush addresses the nation from Jackson Square, New Orleans, outlining many of the steps that the federal government was taking to provide assistance and relief to Katrina victims . </P> <P> After starting to allow residents back into the city, Mayor Nagin ordered yet another evacuation due to Hurricane Rita . With the levees and pumping systems in a weakened state, even a near - miss could bring flooding back to areas that have begun to dry out . </P>

When was hurricane katrina downgraded to a tropical storm