White House preparing Katrina aid package

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http://olympics.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2005-08-31T161908Z_01_BAU158744_RTRIDST_0_NEWS-WEATHER-KATRINA-AID-DC.XML

White House preparing Katrina aid package

WACO, Texas (Reuters) - The Bush administration is putting together an aid package to help with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the White House said on Wednesday.

"I know that there is discussion that is ongoing on that," White House spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters. "And, certainly, I would expect a supplemental (budget request) is something that is going to be needed in a situation like this."

McClellan spoke to reporters just before President George W. Bush left his Crawford, Texas, ranch, cutting short his vacation to oversee the massive recovery effort from Hurricane Katrina.

Bush was to lead a meeting later on Wednesday with 14 federal agencies involved in the recovery and cleanup.