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I've been combing the NOLA.com site (http://www.nola.com/newslogs/breakingtp/index.ssf?/mtlogs/nola_Times-Picayune/archives/2005_08.html#074545) and found these bits and pieces. It has been paraphrased, and early on in the crisis the Times-Pic wasn't always posting definite times:

Monday, Aug. 28, 2005:
-10:30 am: Resident Christy Franchi near Bourbon Street reports that winds are calming down and the French Quarter has not flooded. Trees were down everywhere, but other than that, “It doesn’t look so bad,” she said

-(approx. 10:45 am): FEMA director Mike Brown reports to state office of Emergency Preparedness in Baton Rouge and joins conference call with Gov. Blanco.

-10:45 am: St. Bernard Parish reporting floodwaters at 10 feet and rising.

-11:00 am: Nat. Weather Service reporting a break in the levee on the Industrial Canal. Flooding in Arabi District at 3-10 feet.

-Terry Ebert issues a statement that evacuation priority will be given to those stranded in their homes and those in hospitals.

-Coast Guard has received over four dozen signals from boats in distress, and is also receiving desperate calls from stranded individuals who cannot get through to 911. “They've had reports of people on roof tops at Villere and Louisa streets and in the 200 block of Almonaster Drive.The Coast Guard can't respond to these of sorts of calls at this point, so they're passing them along to local law enforcement. Once the storm is over, the admiral plans to "flood the sky with planes to search for the vessels from which they received signals," [Petty Officer Cliff Roberts] said.”

-New Orleans City Hall is reportedly withstanding storm better than the Superdome is.

-Noon: Utility company Entergy is reporting 700,000 people without power. “Worst in my company’s history,” CEO says.

-Noon: “United States Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., issued the following statement from the Hurricane Command Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

“I would like to commend both Governor Blanco and all of the local leaders who have done a tremendous job helping the people of Louisiana prepare for Hurricane Katrina. Unfortunately, the reverberations of this storm will be felt not only in Louisiana but across the nation.

“Our port system provides the nation with the transportation needs for our country’s economy while our coastline provides the energy for our homes and industries. And Louisiana’s unique wetlands provide our state with a buffer zone from natural disasters such as hurricanes. But our wetlands have been eroding. As I have said before, in order for us to protect America’s energy supply and transportation needs, the federal government must join with the people of Louisiana to preserve America’s wetlands.

“But as we have not weathered all of Katrina yet, we ask the American people to keep us in their thoughts and prayers at this time.”

-12:30 pm: Emergency teams from Louisiana to Alabama and Florida standing by to be deployed once damage is assessed.

-1:30 pm: Residents being plucked from rooftops by boaters in Lower 9th Ward and St. Bernard Parish.

-1:45 pm: President Bush declares Louisiana and Mississippi “major disaster areas.” Announcement releases federal aid.

-2:00 pm: Wes McDermott from the office of emergency preparedness in NO, says city cannot send rescue crews in respond to distress calls until wind drops below 50 mph. City Hall has confirmed a breach of the levee along the 17th Street Canal at Bellaire Drive, with water spilling in.

-2:10 pm: Entergy reporting catastrophic failures to power infrastructure. Crews will not be permitted to go out until after the winds die down to below 35 mph, anticipated to be approx. 8 pm., and flooding and darkness will prevent crews from responding until Tuesday morning at the earliest.

-2:15 pm: Photographers and reporters encounter a parade of looters toting boxes of clothing and shoes from Coleman’s Retail Store. One group rides by in a pickup truck, honking and cheering. No police were present in the area, where water stood 2 to 4 feet deep.

-2:30 pm: Times-Pic photographer waded into 9th Ward area and reported water depth at 12 feet. Reported seeing people clinging to trees, front porches, and in attic windows.

-2:30 pm: National Guard Armory in St. Bernard Parish is submerged.

-3:00 pm: Reporters note: “Dozens of buses and vans at the New Orleans Tours depot appeared to be in good shape, their windows intact thanks to owners who left the front doors and side doors open to reduce the pressure on the glass.” Wind is still gusting to tropical strength.

-3:00 pm: President Bush issues statement. “When the storm passes, the federal government has got assets and resources that we'll be deploying to help you. In the meantime, America will pray - pray for the health and safety of all our citizens."

**(??)Bush declared parts of southern Louisiana and Mississippi major disaster areas Tuesday, clearing the way for individuals to get federal grants for temporary housing and home - and business owners to receiving low-interest loans to make repairs. (Was this back-posted?)

-3:05 pm: Here is a statement from Sen. David Vitter, R-La., on Hurricane Katrina:

While I am extremely grateful that the city of New Orleans didn’t take a direct hit from Hurricane Katrina, many, many families throughout southeast Louisiana have suffered major destruction. My heart and prayers go out to all of the families who have experienced catastrophic loss because of Hurricane Katrina.

“I would like to commend all of the local leaders who helped the people of Louisiana prepare for evacuation and who are working even now to prepare for recovery after the storm subsides. Working together, leaders at the federal, state and local levels, will help the families of Louisiana rebuild their homes and their lives.”

-3:07 pm: Terry Ebbert issues statement: Everybody who had a way or wanted to get out of the way of this storm was able to,'' Ebbert said. "For some that didn't, it was their last night on this earth.''

Police are currently fanning out across the city in squad cars, trucks and boats to assess the damage and rescue people where possible.

-3:10 pm: Gov. Blanco press conference. Tells evacuated residents not to return to city, only emergency vehicles will be allowed in. State officials in New Orleans report at least twenty building collapses in city. An observer located in a fire station across from 17th Street Canal reported seeing water leaking from the levee. Gov. Blanco has ordered medical teams into ravaged areas, but teams are reporting difficulty getting to Superdome becuse of hurricane-force winds. FEMA is focusing on rescue effort. Direcor Mike Brown claims he has “water, ice, and military MREs that are ready to be shipped into areas affected. Claims he has “supply lines backed up to Fort Worth and Atlanta.”

-3:30 pm: Twelve boats deployed from Jackson Barracks to rescue stranded survivors.

-4:00 pm: Residents near the Violet Canal are reporting flood waters of 12 feet.

-4:00 pm: Sidney Coffee, coastal activities advisor to Gov Blanco, begins blaming the hurricane damage on President Bush’s failure to accept an invitation to tour the Louisiana wetlands areas with the governor last week.

-4:00 pm: New Orleans fire truck trying to make its way back into the city is stopped on the I-10 by a 15-foot flood on the freeway.

-4:00 pm: A French Quarter resident waded the flood waters on the I-10, attempting to return to his house. “Wulff said he had heard the mayor had given the all-clear signal, an assumption he realized immediately was false.

When Wulff swam across the flooded underpass he was greeted by an New Orleans Police Department officer who had one question for him: "Are you crazy?”

-4:20 pm : Flood waters from the breach in the 17th Street Canal are flowing down Robert E. Lee boulevard and into the bayou, then surging towards Canal Street.

-4:48 pm: Petroleum Industry releases statment that it has shut down refinery production.

-5:00 pm: Times-Pic makes this statement on its website: “While devastation in New Orleans was substantial, it was well short of what had been feared, according to Robert Klein, director of the risk management and insurance department at Georgia State University.

"It was bad, but not quite as bad as it could have been," Klein said. Klein also said it would be quite a while before firm damage estimates are available.

-CNN and mainstream media outlets reporting a party atmosphere in the French Quarter, saying that New Orleans apparently dodged “the Big One.”

-5:07 pm: Councilman Oliver Thomas prepared to enter New Orleans along with the NOPD to rescue survivors and bring them to the Superdome. "The sad thing is you've got these fools out here breaking into businesses," he said.”

-5:10 pm: Stranded survivors are collecting on an elevated portion of I-10.

-5:10 pm: Rep. Charlie Melancon, D-Napoleonville, releases statement thanking Pres. Bush for signing Declaration of Disaster and starting the flow of aid. He also thanks Gov. Blanco for her “strong leadership.” He then takes opportunity to make a plea for billions in aid to restore southern Louisiana wetlands.

-5:20 pm: Fire officials report a fire in the 9th Ward, but say that 6 to 8 feet of water are preventing crews from getting to the location.

-5:27pm: Coast Guard is already responding to stranded residents in New Orleans and delivering them to high-level interstate roads.

-5:37 pm: People in boats are heading into the city as residents shout to them from the top of the I-10. Police write down addresses where people are known to be stranded, saying that rescuers are trying to get to them.

-6:51 pm: Flooded streets make law enforcement difficult as looting increases. Teenagers are seen hauling away beer and hard liquor in plastic trash cans.