|
by Homeland
Security
For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
September 4, 2005
Contact: 202-282-8010
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 4 p.m.:
Lives Saved 17,000
Citizens Evacuated 35,000
Shelters 499
People housed in shelters 135,000
National Guard personnel 35,000
U.S. Coast Guard personnel 4,000
FEMA responders 5,000
MREs provided (meals) 4.8 million
Water provided (liters) 11
million
- Plans to air evacuate 10,000
persons per day began Saturday with the largest emergency domestic
airlift of people in U.S. history. Operations from the Louis Armstrong
New Orleans International Airport began Saturday.
- This is the largest and most
comprehensive National Guard response to a natural disaster. The
previous largest response was in 1989 during the California Lomo Prieta
earthquake, when 32,000 California Guardsmen were called up.
- The Environmental Protection
Agency issued an advisory today urging the public to use caution when
entering hurricane damaged homes and buildings. Individuals who are
returning to their homes or businesses should remain alert for leaking
containers and reactive household chemicals, as well as taking caution
when handling building materials. For more information visit
www.epa.gov.
Return to Table of Contents |