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       *Singer Aaron Neville and the entire New Orleans Neville family got out of town on Monday and are currently staying at a hotel in Memphis, reports FoxNews.com’s Roger Friedman, however most of the Nevilles’ homes are destroyed, according to their niece and “A Current Affair” host, Arthel Neville. “This isn’t like having two feet of water in your basement,” she told Friedman upon flying back to her hometown to survey the damage. “Everything is destroyed. I am just so lucky to have been born here and to have had the experience of New Orleans." She also confirmed rumors that there had been dead bodies floating around her Uncle Aaron’s house on Wednesday.

       *Musician/songwriter Allen Toussaint was one of the 25,000 refugees stranded at the New Orleans Superdome hoping to get on a bus for Houston’s Astrodome, Fox’s Friedman also reported. “I know this because he got a message out to his daughter, who relayed to it through friends,” the writer said of Toussaint, a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member who wrote Patti LaBelle’s hit “Lady Marmalade” and Dr. John’s “Right Place, Wrong Time.”

       *New Orleans’ own “Queen of Soul” Irma Thomas, the original singer of what became the Rolling Stones’ hit, “Time is On My Side,” has also not been heard from since the hurricane hit.  Her club, The Lion’s Den, is now under water. Ironically, most of her 1961-63 recordings for the Minit label were written and produced by Allen Toussaint. While none of these singles hit the national charts, most of them were regional hits.

       *Philadelphia-born R&B veteran Patti LaBelle has offered her home to a friend affected by the hurricane.  "I have spoken to a friend of mine. Actually, she was my background singer and she lives in New Orleans," LaBelle said. "I gave her a home today. I told her to move in with me because everything she ever thought of is gone."

       *At the World Music Awards held Wednesday, percussionist Sheila E said she hasn’t been able to contact relatives in New Orleans. "We have family there so we're still waiting to hear from our family," she said. "We don't know where they are. We don't know if they even got out."

       *The 82-year-old aunt of Metairie, La. native Ellen DeGeneres had to quickly evacuate her home in Pass Christian, Miss., as Hurricane Katrina headed toward the Gulf Coast. "My aunt has lost everything, she has nothing," an emotional DeGeneres told AP Radio Wednesday of her aunt Helen Currie. "She grabbed four pictures out of her house. She's lost her entire life." The comedian is currently talking to networks about organizing a telethon to raise funds for hurricane victims similar to what was done after the Sept. 11 terror attacks.

      *New Orleans native Harry Connick Jr. said his immediate family was safe, but had not heard from other family and friends since the hurricane came ashore. "It is hard to sit in silence, to watch one's youth wash away," he said in a statement. "New Orleans is my essence, my soul, my muse, and I can only dream that one day she will recapture her glory." The jazz artist will join NBC Universal’s "A Concert for Hurricane Relief," tonight at 8 p.m.

      *Kentwood, Louisiana native Britney Spears has offered prayer for the hurricane victims via her web site.  The 23-year-old said in her posting that "thoughts and prayers go out to everyone" in the states along the Gulf Coast. "All of my family members there are safe and thank you to all my fans for your concern," she adds.