Hurricane Katrina

20 years ago, the world watched in disbelief as Hurricane Katrina swept through the Gulf Coast. The devastation that followed was unprecedented, with entire communities submerged beneath the surging waters. Homes were torn apart, livelihoods were lost, and lives were tragically cut short. The aftermath of the hurricane required an urgent need for solidarity and support.

In the midst of this turmoil, The Salvation Army responded immediately. Volunteers and first responders worked tirelessly to provide food, shelter, and emotional support to those who had lost everything. Their dedication to serving impacted communities showcased the true essence of compassion and resilience. From distributing hot meals to offering a shoulder to lean on, The Salvation Army played a pivotal role in helping individuals rebuild their lives.

For a glimpse at the full response, read 2006’s When the Winds Died Down.

CAT 3

HURRICANE

08.29.05

LANDFALL

AL, MS, LA

RESPONDING STATES

Hurricane Katrina Service Stats

Food Service

4,743,967 prepared meals

429,963 sandwiches

3,557,684 cold drinks

2,908,775 snacks

178 mobile feeding units

11 field kitchens

Product Distributed

199,520 food boxes

175,569 cleanup kits

182,062 comfort/hygiene kits

3,815,031 clothing items

737,778 gallons water

552,263 bags ice

Service Time

Employees and Volunteers

837,645 service hours

Emotional & Spiritual Care

102,918 contacts

Long Term Recovery

The Salvation Army transitioned to long-term recovery in January 2006, allocating a further $225 million. Long-term recovery services focused on case management, reconstruction and support for volunteer rebuild teams. Financial assistance programs also helped with home repair, job training and other initiatives to aid long-term recovery in communities. Toward this end, The Salvation Army was able to:

Provide emergency relief at Disaster Assistance Centers, which served as information hubs for clients and as distribution points for food and clothing.
Establish eight Major Distribution Centers along the Gulf Coast, where more than 106,100 preregistered Salvation Army clients could go to receive donated goods, such as furniture and large appliances.
House more than 8,000 disaster workers at Salvation Army-sponsored volunteer villages, representing 56,000 nights of lodging for recovery teams.
Contribute to long-term community recovery efforts, meetings and committees throughout the region.
Register 84,000 cases that assisted 350,000 people with repair, rebuilding, furnishings and supplies.
Partner with Habitat for Humanity, provided funds to support the construction and rehabilitation of more than 400 homes and sponsoring the 2008 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project.
Help more than 5,000 people who became unemployed as a result of the hurricanes receive job training and re-employment services, in cooperation with partner organizations.

The Salvation Army was one of a number of charitable social services organizations participating in the Katrina Aid Today disaster case management program. This program provided long-term recovery assistance to hurricane survivors in impacted areas of Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi and to evacuees who relocated across the country to places including Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, New York, Oklahoma, Texas, and Washington.

An Ongoing Presence

Continuity of social services is critical to the ongoing health of local communities. Volunteers, staff and officers worked to restore basic social service programs to the Gulf Coast – reopening homeless shelters, community centers, a rehabilitation center, children’s programs and church services.

A new Emergency Disaster Services center in Jackson, MS, featuring an emergency operations center, 17,000 square feet of warehouse space, a state-of-the-art amateur radio station, and a vehicle yard for a fleet of specialized disaster equipment and vehicles.
Reopened corps, social services programs, Center of Hope homeless shelter, Adult Rehabilitation Center and family store in New Orleans.
A 52,000-square-foot Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center in Biloxi, MS, to replace Salvation Army facilities lost during Hurricane Katrina, built on the site of one of the volunteer villages that The Salvation Army operated for Katrina aid workers.
Reopened corps, social services programs, homeless shelter and family store in Gulfport, Pascagoula and Lucedale, MS. The Salvation Army is acquiring property in Gulfport to develop a new Center of Hope housing program for the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina served as a wake-up call for communities and organizations alike. It highlighted the importance of disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. In the years following the catastrophe, efforts were redoubled to ensure that such a tragedy would never be repeated. For its part, The Salvation Army committed to continuing its disaster relief strategies and collaborating with other organizations to create an even more robust and efficient response system.

Hurricane Katrina Videos

Hurricane Katrina Photos

Hurricane Katrina Stories

Katrina Remembered – Stories from the Ground

After Katrina – A Gulf Coast Christmas

A Timeline of The Salvation Army’s Hurricane Katrina Response

A Community Awakening – Katrina Response in Lawrenceville, GA

The Salvation Army Mission Statement

The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church.Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination

Mission Statement

The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination