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03 September 2005

More than 11,500 Rescued in Wake of Hurricane Katrina

Department of Homeland Security reports on ongoing relief efforts

Washington -- More than 11,500 lives have been saved thus far in the ongoing aid and rescue operations in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the Department of Homeland Security said September 3.

Hurricane Katrina struck the southeastern United States August 29, causing widespread damage and prompting the largest domestic relief effort in U.S. history. (See related article.)

Homeland Security said that more than 30,000 emergency response, rescue, recovery and law enforcement personnel are working nonstop in the relief effort.

As of mid-morning September 3, some 25,000 citizens had been evacuated from the ravaged area, the department said. In addition, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) had distributed 6.7 million liters of water and 1.9 million meals ready to eat.

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff told a news conference on the afternoon of September 3 that more than 100,000 people already had received humanitarian aid and that the Coast Guard alone has rescued 9,500 people.

Chertoff said the United States government will now "move heaven and earth to rescue, feed, shelter and restore life and health to the people currently suffering." He said "all of the capabilities and assets" of the federal government will be used to help the Gulf Coast victims.

The secretary added that he would be heading to New Orleans to oversee the next phase of relief efforts.

Homeland Security said the Department of Transportation announced that Amtrak, the national passenger railroad system, made its first successful trip moving people from New Orleans to Dallas and other nearby cities. The trains were to return twice more on September 3 for more evacuations, DHS said. Amtrak will have two trains in place for evacuations by September 5, allowing for a total of four trips that day. The trains will continue operating for as long as necessary, Homeland Security said.

The Department of Health and Human Services, working with the Department of Defense, is setting up 10 federal medical shelters, each with a 250-bed capacity, Homeland Security said. In addition, Health and Human Services has shipped nearly 100 tons of medications and supplies, including 100,000 doses of antibiotics, since the hurricane struck.

Nongovernmental organizations also are involved in the massive effort. Homeland Security said the American Red Cross has opened more than 250 shelters in nine states, which are housing more than 100,000 evacuees. The organization is planning to serve nearly 500,000 hot meals each day, and more than 3,300 Red Cross staff and volunteers are in the affected area and working around the clock to serve the public need, according to the agency.

The text of the Homeland Security press release is available on the department’s Web site.

For additional information, see Hurricane Katrina.

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)