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

Release Date: 09/10/05 00:00:00

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: 202-282-8010
September 10, 2005

Federal support to state and local officials and volunteer organizations continues around the clock in an effort to save lives, sustain life, and assist with law enforcement operations in areas affected by Hurricane Katrina. The following facts highlight some of the important activities and approximate numbers as of 4 p.m.:  

  • Lives Saved (rescues performed) – 49,700
  • People housed in shelters – 208,000
  • FEMA responders – 8,900
  • U.S. Coast Guard personnel – 4,000
  • National Guard personnel – 50,800
  • Active Duty Military – 20,000
  • MREs provided (meals) – 21.3 million
  • Water provided (liters) – 49.2 million

The Department of Labor has established toll-free number (1-866-4-USA-DOL) and a Web site, www.dol.gov (Department of Labor’s Hurricane Recovery Assistance Page); to help evacuees file unemployment insurance claims and access temporary and permanent job information.

The Coast Guard has established a forward operating base in Baton Rouge, LA, to coordinate pollution response efforts with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the state of Louisiana, and local industries.  The Coast Guard is responding to over 150 pollution reports.

EPA in coordination with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality posted data from New Orleans flood water samples.  The data has been reviewed and validated through a quality assurance process to ensure scientific accuracy.  The results show the public and emergency responders should avoid contact with the standing water and are publicly available at the EPA website – www.epa.gov.  Daily sampling is ongoing and EPA, in coordination with federal, state and local agencies will continue to release data as it becomes available.

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This page was last modified on 09/10/05 00:00:00