At Least 55 Killed by Katrina; Bush Promises Aid For Clean-up

As the Gulf States slowly dry off in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, President Bush promised to provide as much emergency federal aid as possible to help residents of the affected states to 'get your lives back in order.'

At least 55 people were reported dead as a result of Katrina, one of the larger storms to hit ground in the area in recent memory. Just before hitting the Louisiana coast, Katrina was a Level 5 hurricane with sustained winds of more than 145 mph.

The president addressed reporters while campaigning for his new Medicare prescription drug benefit program in Arizona and California.

'It's a storm now that is moving through and now is the time for governments to help people get their feet on the ground,' Bush said. 'For those of you who are concerned about whether or not we are prepared to help — don't be. We are.'

He added, 'We're in place, we've got equipment in place, supplies in place and once we're able to assess the damage we'll be able to move in and help those good folks in the affected areas.'

Meanwhile, the American Red Cross has mobilized thousands of volunteers to deal with the aftermath of the storm. Bradley Hague, a spokesman for the American Red Cross called it the 'largest single mobilization that we've done for any single natural disaster.'

The Red Cross set up its regional headquarters in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

The Federal Aviation Administration indicated that airports throughout the region remain closed in the aftermath of the storm. All flights have been canceled and will remain so for the immediate future.