Bush Seeks $51.8B In Katrina Aid

White House Says That Won't Be All; Congress Promises Fast Action

(CBS/AP)  With much of New Orleans still under water, the White House announced that President Bush is asking lawmakers to approve another $51.8 billion to cover the costs of federal recovery efforts. Congressional officials said they expected to approve the next installment as early as Thursday, to keep the money flowing without interruption.

The new request comes as reports of the extent of the tragedy are starting to emerge. Louisiana congressman Charlie Melancon says more than 100 people died at a warehouse along a New Orleans dock and a state lawmaker says 30 people died at a flooded-out nursing home just outside New Orleans.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan said the new request, which is in addition to $10.5 billion already approved and was being sent to Capitol Hill later Wednesday, would not be the last.

"We are sparing no effort to help those that have been affected by Katrina and are in need of help," he said. "There will be more that will be needed."

The federal government also plans to hand out debit cards worth $2,000 each to families displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

Homeland Security Department Secretary Michael Chertoff, under fire for his agency's response to the disaster, held a conference call with governors of states with evacuees and described the plan. While many details remained to be worked out, the plan was to quickly begin distributing the cards, starting with people in major evacuation centers such as the Houston Astrodome.

McClellan said the cards are aimed at providing "some immediate cash assistance to those who are in shelters, those that were evacuated."

FEMA officials said the program is aimed at those most in need, so not all families that fled their homes will be eligible. The cards are to be used to help victims purchase food, transportation and other essentials.

Meanwhile, Senate Republican chairmen pledged to focus on recovery — and investigate later why the initial response was ineffectual, while Democrats pressed for investigations and the firing of the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency now.

McClellan said there are ongoing problems that need to be solved in the Katrina response and "the president is not satisfied."

As floodwaters began to slowly recede with the city's first pumps returning to operation, Mayor Ray Nagin authorized law enforcement officers and the U.S. military to force the evacuation of all residents who refuse to heed orders to leave.

The city faces the new threat of floodwaters that have become a toxic stew of chemical and biological waste, and growing concern over oil and gas leaks, reports CBS News correspondent Byron Pitts. Authorities fear an explosion, with no running water to fight fires.

Police Capt. Marlon Defillo said that forced removal of citizens had not yet begun. "That's an absolute last resort," he said.