Hurricane Katrina

===Non-governmental organization response===
[[File:FEMA - 15322 - Photograph by Andrea Booher taken on 09-05-2005 in Texas.jpg|thumb|Residents of Louisiana, who had to flee their homes because of Hurricane Katrina, are inside the [[Houston Astrodome]] and being helped by the Red Cross and other agencies and associations.]]
The [[American Red Cross]], America's Second Harvest (now known as [[Feeding America]]), [[Southern Baptist Convention]], [[Salvation Army]], [[Oxfam]], [[Common Ground Collective]], [[Burners Without Borders]],<ref name="sfbg">{{cite news | first=Steven T. | last=Jones | url=http://www.sfbg.com/40/21/cover_katrina.html | title=From here to Katrina | work=San Francisco Bay Guardian | date=February 22, 2006 | access-date=May 18, 2006 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060526233911/http://www.sfbg.com/40/21/cover_katrina.html | archive-date=May 26, 2006 | url-status=live}}</ref> [[Emergency Communities]], [[Habitat for Humanity]], [[Catholic Charities]], [[Direct Relief]], Service International, "A River of Hope", [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]],<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]]|title=Church Providing Relief to Hurricane Katrina Victims|url=https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/church-providing-relief-to-hurricane-katrina-victims|date=September 1, 2005|access-date=January 15, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190629003054/https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/church-providing-relief-to-hurricane-katrina-victims|archive-date=June 29, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Latter-day Saints to Mobilize Another 4,000 Volunteers in Chainsaw Brigade's Second Wave|publisher=[[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]]|url=https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/latter-day-saints-to-mobilize-another-4,000-volunteers-in-chainsaw-brigade-s-second-wave|date=September 16, 2005|access-date=January 18, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190628150606/https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/latter-day-saints-to-mobilize-another-4,000-volunteers-in-chainsaw-brigade-s-second-wave|archive-date=June 28, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://ldsmag.com/article-1-662/ | title=Mormon Helping Hands Make a Difference | magazine=Meridian Magazine | date=October 20, 2005 | access-date=June 7, 2015 | first=Jared | last=Johnson | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160421024517/http://ldsmag.com/article-1-662/ | archive-date=April 21, 2016 | url-status=live}}</ref> and many other charitable organizations provided aid to victims in the aftermath of the storm. They were not allowed into New Orleans proper by the National Guard for several days after the storm because of safety concerns. These organizations raised US$4.25 billion in donations from the public, with the Red Cross receiving over half of these donations.<ref name = "Charity Navigator report">{{cite web | author = Staff writer | publisher = [[Charity Navigator]] | title = Where Did The Money Go? | year = 2006 | access-date = August 5, 2006 | website = Hurricane Katrina: One Year Later | url = http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm/bay/katrina.main.htm | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060813170224/http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm/bay/katrina.main.htm | archive-date = August 13, 2006 | url-status = live}}</ref> Some smaller organizations and individuals ignored the access restrictions and provided early relief. For example, two privately chartered planes from [[FasterCures]] evacuated 200 patients from Charity Hospital in New Orleans.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/2005/09/09/al-gore-airlifts-evacuees.html |title=Al Gore Airlifts Evacuees |publisher=FOXnews.com |date=September 9, 2005 |access-date=February 19, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070420195422/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0%2C2933%2C168978%2C00.html |archive-date=April 20, 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Volunteers from the [[Amateur Radio Emergency Service]] provided communications in areas where the communications infrastructure had been damaged or totally destroyed, relaying everything from 911 traffic to messages home.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Staff Writer|url=http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter?issue=2005-09-16|title=ARRL President Submits Congressional Testimony on Hams' Katrina Response|publisher=American Radio Relay League|access-date=April 14, 2010|date=September 16, 2005|volume=24|issue=36|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101221033732/http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter?issue=2005-09-16|archive-date=December 21, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> In Hancock County, Mississippi, ham radio operators provided the only communications into or out of the area and even served as 911 dispatchers.<ref>Rick Palm. [http://www.arrl.org/ares-el?issue=2005-09-22 "ARES E-Letter for September 22, 2005"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121220834/http://www.arrl.org/ares-el?issue=2005-09-22 |date=January 21, 2012}} ''The American Radio Relay League''. September 22, 2005. Retrieved on April 14, 2010.</ref>

Many private corporations also contributed to relief efforts. On September 13, 2005, it was reported that corporate donations amounted to $409 million, and were expected to exceed $1 billion.<ref>[https://money.cnn.com/2005/09/13/news/fortune500/katrina_donations/ "Corporate Katrina gifts could top $1B"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070107142543/http://money.cnn.com/2005/09/13/news/fortune500/katrina_donations/ |date=January 7, 2007}} ''CNN''. September 13, 2005. Retrieved on June 5, 2006.</ref>

During and after the Hurricanes Katrina, Wilma and Rita, the American Red Cross had opened 1,470 shelters and registered 3.8 million overnight stays. None were allowed in New Orleans, however. A total of 244,000 Red Cross workers (95% of which were non-paid volunteers) were utilized throughout these three hurricanes. In addition, 346,980 comfort kits (including such basic necessities as toothpaste, soap, washcloths, and toys for children) and 205,360 cleanup kits (containing brooms, mops, and bleach) were distributed. For mass care, the organization served 68 million snacks and meals to victims of the disasters and to rescue workers. The Red Cross also had its Disaster Health services meet 596,810 contacts, and Disaster Mental Health services met 826,590 contacts. Red Cross emergency financial assistance was provided to 1.4 million families. Hurricane Katrina was the first natural disaster in the United States in which the American Red Cross utilized its "Safe and Well" family location website.<ref name="ARC 1 yr">{{cite web|publisher=[[American Red Cross]] |title=A Year of Healing |date=September 29, 2006 |url=http://www.redcross.org/images/pdfs/Katrina_OneYearReport.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121200321/http://www.redcross.org/images/pdfs/Katrina_OneYearReport.pdf |archive-date=January 21, 2012}}</ref><ref name = "ARC 2005AHS facts">{{cite web | publisher = American Red Cross | title = Hurricane Season 2005: Facts and Figures|date = September 29, 2006 | url = http://www.redcross.org/news/ds/hurricanes/2005/facts.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060501000858/http://www.redcross.org/news/ds/hurricanes/2005/facts.html|archive-date=May 1, 2006 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Direct Relief provided a major response in the Gulf states so health providers could treat the local patients and evacuees. Direct Relief furnished $10 million in medical material aid and cash grants to support clinics and health centers in the area.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.directrelief.org/emergency/hurricane-katrina/|title=Hurricane Katrina Relief|date=2018-04-25|website=Direct Relief |access-date=2019-03-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322143644/https://www.directrelief.org/emergency/hurricane-katrina/|archive-date=March 22, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the year following Katrina's strike on the Gulf Coast, The Salvation Army allocated donations of more than $365 million to serve more than 1.7 million people in nearly every state. The organization's immediate response to Hurricane Katrina included more than 5.7 million hot meals and about 8.3 million sandwiches, snacks, and drinks served in and around New Orleans. Its SATERN network of amateur radio operators picked up where modern communications left off to help locate more than 25,000 survivors. Salvation Army pastoral care counselors were on hand to comfort the emotional and spiritual needs of 277,000 individuals. As part of the overall effort, Salvation Army officers, employees, and volunteers contributed more than 900,000 hours of service.<ref name="Salvation Army">{{cite web | url = http://www.salvationist.org/intnews.nsf/vw_web_articles/80D873B8CDAC8607802571D9003FDDEF?opendocument | title = Salvation Army Reflects on Largest Disaster Response Ever at One-Year Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina | access-date = April 14, 2010 | date = August 28, 2006 | publisher = [[Salvation Army|The Salvation Army]] | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110727001251/http://www.salvationist.org/intnews.nsf/vw_web_articles/80D873B8CDAC8607802571D9003FDDEF?opendocument | archive-date = July 27, 2011 | url-status = live}}</ref>