-->Wednesday, September 7, 2005 ú Last updated 9:17 a.m. PT

Katrina victims to get $2K debit cards

By DEVLIN BARRETT
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

WASHINGTON -- The federal government plans to begin doling out debit cards
worth $2,000 each to adult victims of Hurricane Katrina, The Associated
Press has learned.

Homeland Security Department Secretary Michael Chertoff descibed the plan
in a conference call with state officials Wednesday morning. The
unprecedented cash card program initially will benefit stranded people who
have been moved to major rescue centers such as the Houston Astrodome.

"They are going to start issuing debit cards, $2,000 per adult, today at
the Astrodome," said Kathy Walt, a spokeswoman for Texas Gov. Rick Perry.

The cards could be used to buy food, transportation, gas and other
essentials the displaced people need, according to a state official who
was on the call and requested anonymity because the program has not been
publicly announced.

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