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F EMA's Web site to receive direct bank deposits, FEMA spokeswoman Natalie Rule said. "We tried it as an innovative way to get aid to evacuee populations in Te xas. We decided it would be more expeditious with direct deposits," she said, citing the large staffing operation that would be required to repl icate the Texas operation in other states. This morning the lines snaked around the Reliant complex as hurricane eva cuees picked the FEMA debit cards, and those from the American Red Cross . Even before the sun rose this morning, Katrina victims were lining up for the disaster aid they need most now: money to start their new lives awa y from home. The distribution of Red Cross cards worth up to $1,500 was continuing thi s morning at Reliant Park and is expanding to include evacuees at the Ge orge R Brown Convention Center. The Red Cross' other 26 shelters in the Houston area will be making their own arrangements for the distribution of cards on site. Meanwhile, FEMA cards worth up to $2,000 were passed out at the Reliant A rena to those who have already registered with the Federal Emergency Man agement Agency but haven't already received checks and direct deposits t o their banking accounts. This morning, US House Majority Leader Tom DeLay's visit to the Reliant Park this offered him a glimpse of what it's like to be living in shelt er. While on the tour of a shelter with top administration officials from Was hington, including US Secretary of Labor Elaine L Chao and US Treas ury Secretary John W Snow, DeLay stopped to chat with three young boys resting on cots. With a group of reporters and press officers in tow, DeLay then moved on, chatting with others, including a local IRS representative. He then vis ited with job recruiters set up in the complex. Evacuee Eva Kinnard, 37, was the first person to walk off the floor of th e Reliant Arena this morning with the new FEMA debit card. She said she slept overnight at the arena because she feared today's lines would be a s bad as yesterday's mile-long lines. Kinnard has five children with her and was down to zero dollars in her po cket. She's carrying all her wordly possessions in a blue Wal-mart bag a nd pillow case slung over her shoulder. Limping from foot surgery, she reinjured it running dur ing the storm. Tears rolled down her cheeks when she took card from FEMA workers: "Thank you all, so so much. At least 100 FEMA work stations on floor of the arena to help evacuees. T oday the line was long but at least it was orderly, straight, with no pu shing, shoving, cutting. On Thursday the Red Cross' first debit card handouts threatened to overwh elm organizers and evacuees. The demand was so strong that police locke d the Reliant Park gates for several hours to prevent evacuees living at other sites from getting into line. "We were not prepared to handle an influx of people coming in. It got a l ittle bit out of hand," said Johanna Abad, a Houston Police Department s pokeswoman. Officials said they are attempting to process residents at the Reliant co mplex first because of the number of displaced people housed there. The Red Cross debit cards with spending power ranging from about $300 to about $1,500 can be used for tax-exempt purchases of anything except tob acco, alcohol and firearms. "It's so chaotic," said volunteer Shelley Kain, who processed evacuees' p aperwork Thursday.
Steve Ueckert / Chronicle Eva Kinnard was first in line today and ready for representatives of FEMA as they distributed debit cards, one of which she is holding, to Katrin a evacuees in Reliant Arena. Officials said they are working to speed up the process today as FEMA beg an passing out its debit cards. The agency already has given out $12 mil lion in assistance to Louisiana hurricane victims in Houston and $79 mil lion in aid to Louisiana victims elsewhere, said spokesman Ed Conley. Rick Noriega, D-Houston, site manager at the convention center , said he is confident that today's distribution of debit cards will go smoothly. He said there is no plan to lock the doors to prevent those no t living at the center from registering there. The debit cards are an unusual step for the Red Cross, which normally sen ds teams to examine property before providing assistance. "In this case, there's no way to send people out," said spokeswoman Denis e Bishop. DEBIT CARD DISTRIBUTION Red Cross distributing cards today to people registered and currently sta ying at Reliant Park, George R Brown Convention Center and the 26 other area Red Cross hurricane relief shelters. Chronicle reporter Purva Patel contributed to this report.
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