President Bush in New Orleans,  Monday

The White House says President Bush will address the nation from hurricane devastated Louisiana late Thursday.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan says the president will talk about recovery efforts and "the way forward," and is not focused on his falling poll numbers. President Bush has seen his approval rating drop to its lowest point ever in several public opinion polls, amid widespread criticism of the federal government's initial response to Hurricane Katrina.

The death toll in Louisiana is now 279, including 45 people whose bodies were recently discovered in a flooded out hospital in New Orleans. Power is back on in some areas of the city, and water pumps are draining streets of polluted floodwaters.

Arrival monitor at Louis Armstrong International Airport in New Orleans displays test screen as group of U.S. Air Force airmen walk by

New Orleans' Louis Armstrong international airport plans to resume some commercial flights Tuesday.

On Monday, Mr. Bush named David Paulison, a top Homeland Security official, as acting head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). He replaces Michael Brown, who resigned after being reassigned back to Washington.