I just got a call from a friend who fled to Natchez, Miss. and he confirmed:

"Orleans Parish Prison Inmates have taken over the prison and the guards are hostage. There is a complete black out in the prison. Thomas told WBRZ News in Baton Rouge, La. that a deputy at the prison, his wife and their four children have been taken hostage by rioting prisoners after riding out the hurricane inside the jail building. Blanco said downed communications systems have made it impossible to confirm the report.

"I do know that this morning we were trying to transfer prisoners form Jefferson (Parish Jail) and Orleans to other state prisons, because there's no electricity, no food," she told CNN. "I'm not sure exactly what's going on."

katrina

(Update):I've gotten word that this story now is not being confirmed. I got it from somebody on the ground so I'll see what I can find out.