The first emergency aid has begun arriving in New Orleans by military convoy days after Hurricane Katrina struck.
Armed soldiers escorted the row of vehicles through flooded streets as they headed towards the Convention Centre and the Superdome, where thousands of refugees are sheltering.
The National Guard convoy, carrying food, water, medical supplies and weapons, is destined for tens of thousands of refugees affected by Katrina.
The aid arrived as President Bush promised to "make right" the slow response to the devastation.
He was responding to criticism that the aid effort on America's Gulf Coast has not been good enough.
Following a visit to the region, Mr Bush said: "This is one of worst national disasters we have faced, with national consequences.
"People are working around the clock, people are working hard and making good progress.
"I am not going to forget what I've seen. I understand the devastation requires more than one day's attention. It is going to require the attention of this country for a long time."
Mr Bush - who said the disaster was worse than imagined - said $10.5bn (£5.7bn) emergency aid has been approved by the Senate for affected areas as a "small down payment"
He toured the disaster area - staying out of central New Orleans - and admitted early rescue efforts had been unacceptable.
Troops are battling to free the city from the grip of anarchy, with looters and armed gangs patrolling the corpse-strewn city.
Helicopters have also been dropping sandbags to try and stem the flow of water
The military convoy arrived as smoke shrouded parts of the city, caused by fires which were left to burn as emergency services focus on helping survivors.
Aircraft carrying supplies are arriving at a rate of four per hour at New Orleans International Airport, leaving with displaced residents.
A large oil spill was also spotted from two storage tanks on the Mississippi River, downstream from New Orleans.
Meanwhile, the US government will release 30 million barrels of oil from the nation's emergency stockpile and another 60 million will come from overseas to combat the energy crisis.
US senator David Vitter said more than 10,000 people may have been killed in Louisiana alone.
The evacuation of one hospital was also been suspended after outbreaks of violence.
Millions of people are without power and it is thought one million have been left homeless. Some 80% of New Orleans is under water.
Armed soldiers escorted the row of vehicles through flooded streets as they headed towards the Convention Centre and the Superdome, where thousands of refugees are sheltering.
The National Guard convoy, carrying food, water, medical supplies and weapons, is destined for tens of thousands of refugees affected by Katrina.
The aid arrived as President Bush promised to "make right" the slow response to the devastation.
He was responding to criticism that the aid effort on America's Gulf Coast has not been good enough.
Following a visit to the region, Mr Bush said: "This is one of worst national disasters we have faced, with national consequences.
"People are working around the clock, people are working hard and making good progress.
"I am not going to forget what I've seen. I understand the devastation requires more than one day's attention. It is going to require the attention of this country for a long time."
Mr Bush - who said the disaster was worse than imagined - said $10.5bn (£5.7bn) emergency aid has been approved by the Senate for affected areas as a "small down payment"
He toured the disaster area - staying out of central New Orleans - and admitted early rescue efforts had been unacceptable.
Troops are battling to free the city from the grip of anarchy, with looters and armed gangs patrolling the corpse-strewn city.
Helicopters have also been dropping sandbags to try and stem the flow of water
The military convoy arrived as smoke shrouded parts of the city, caused by fires which were left to burn as emergency services focus on helping survivors.
Aircraft carrying supplies are arriving at a rate of four per hour at New Orleans International Airport, leaving with displaced residents.
A large oil spill was also spotted from two storage tanks on the Mississippi River, downstream from New Orleans.
Meanwhile, the US government will release 30 million barrels of oil from the nation's emergency stockpile and another 60 million will come from overseas to combat the energy crisis.
US senator David Vitter said more than 10,000 people may have been killed in Louisiana alone.
The evacuation of one hospital was also been suspended after outbreaks of violence.
Millions of people are without power and it is thought one million have been left homeless. Some 80% of New Orleans is under water.
