The Coast Guard begins to recover the bodies of the people that died from the floods in New Orleans. Renee Montagne reports on how special retrieval teams are collecting the remains of Katrina's victims.
RENEE MONTAGNE, host: Since Hurricane Katrina struck, the city of New Orleans has been an open      morgue.  Now as the murky waters engulfing New Orleans recede, they're      giving up the dead.  The remains of residents who did not escape      Hurricane Katrina, who drowned with their city, are being collected by      special retrieval teams which include a chaplain.  The official in charge      of disaster relief is Coast Guard Vice Admiral Thad Allen.  He says it's      important to treat the bodies with dignity.</s>RENEE MONTAGNE, host: Vice Admiral THAD ALLEN (USCG):  When the retrieval team arrives on      scene, the first thing that happens is an ecumenical prayer is rendered      by the chaplain.</s>RENEE MONTAGNE, host: The teams collect as much information as they can at the site,      anything that could help investigators identify the deceased.  The bodies      are then taken to the morgue under police escort.  There, they are      decontaminated. Pathologists then collect DNA and determine if an autopsy      is necessary.</s>RENEE MONTAGNE, host: Vice Adm. ALLEN:  On completion of the forensic data collection, I want      to repeat--I want to make sure that I'm very clear on this--there will be      a ceremonial symbolic washing of the body to honor the dead, as observed      in the Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths.</s>RENEE MONTAGNE, host: Vice Admiral Thad Allen, speaking from New Orleans.</s>RENEE MONTAGNE, host: In Louisiana, the official death toll now stands at 474.  It's expected      to rise.</s>RENEE MONTAGNE, host: This is MORNING EDITION from NPR News.