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Highlights of United States Government Response to the Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina

Release Date: 09/07/05 00:00:00

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: 202-282-8010
September 7, 2005

The federal effort to save lives, sustain life, and support recovery and law enforcement operations in areas affected by Hurricane Katrina continues around the clock. The following facts highlight some of the important activities as of 2:00 p.m.:  

  • Lives Saved (rescues performed) – 47,000
  • Shelters – 750
  • People housed in shelters – 235,400
  • FEMA responders – 7,500
  • U.S. Coast Guard personnel – 4,000
  • National Guard personnel – 41,500
  • Active Duty Military – 17,000
  • MREs provided (meals) – 11.9 million
  • Water provided (liters) – 21 million

As the response efforts to get people out of harms way and placed in safe clean environments continues, the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency is reaching out to individuals and assisting them in the application process for disaster assistance. The registration process is one of the first steps in receiving aid through FEMA's programs, and assistance is being expedited to assist those in need.

Expedited assistance to help people with their emergency needs of food, shelter, clothing, and personal necessities is being made available to individuals as they apply to FEMA on line at www.fema.gov, or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), TTY 800-462-7585. FEMA personnel are fanning out across the nation visiting shelters and setting up disaster recovery centers staffed with individuals to assist in the process of providing expedited assistance.

The Secretary of Labor, Elaine Chao, signed a National emergency grant for more than $100 million to create 25,000 temporary jobs in the disaster areas, largely to assist in clean-up and recovery efforts.

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This page was last reviewed/modified on 09/07/05 00:00:00.