Relief Convoys Arrive in New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS — The situation in New Orleans was nearing rock bottom Friday as thousands of National Guardsmen and women armed with food, water and weapons streamed into the hurricane-ravaged city to bring relief to the suffering multitudes and take back the streets from the looters and armed vigilantes.

"The cavalry is HERE and will continue to arrive," one Guardsman said.

President Bush arrived in Mobile, Ala., around 11:15 a.m. EDT Friday to tour the devastation. He will visit New Orleans later in the day.

"We have a responsibility to help clean up this mess," Bush said after meeting with the leaders of some Gulf Coast states. "It's as if the entire Gulf Coast were obliterated by the worst kind of weapon you can imagine."




He also said the $10.5 million in emergency funds being appropriated by Congress is a small down payment on recovery costs to help the people of New Orleans and other areas hit by Katrina back on their feet. The Senate passed that bill Thursday while the House followed suit on Friday

And "we are going to restore order in the city of New Orleans," the president added.