Sept. 1 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. Congress will return early from its summer recess to address damage caused by Hurricane Katrina, according to a congressional aide who requested anonymity.

Both the House and Senate will be back at work by tomorrow to begin work on a package of federal disaster aid for areas of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Western Florida affected by Hurricane Katrina, the aide said. Lawmakers were initially slated to return to work next week from an August break,

``We will come back in the next 24 hours,'' said the aide.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said today the federal government has spent $2 billion on emergency aid so far. Katrina swept over Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and western Florida three days ago with 140-mile-an-hour winds.

The storm caused an estimated $25 billion in damage, which would make it the costliest U.S. natural disaster. It killed an untold number of people and destroyed commerce along the Gulf Coast region, which produces a third of the nation's oil, a fifth of its natural gas and handles 40 percent of U.S. grain exports.

To contact the reporter on this story: Laura Litvan in Washington at llitvan@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: September 1, 2005 14:48 EDT