Red Cross marks five years since Hurricane Katrina strikes the Gulf Coast

Five years after Hurricane Katrina, a great deal of progress has been made in the communities along the Gulf Coast devastated by Katrina, Wilma and Rita. We are grateful to our donors, who contributed nearly $2.2 billion to the Red Cross, allowing us to assist millions of people affected by the storms.

Those funds helped us provide:

Shelter for survivors across 31 states and the District of Columbia
Hot meals and snacks
Financial assistance for survivors to purchase groceries, clothing, diapers and other basic needs; and money for people to return home, make home repairs and get back to work
Physical and mental health services to help them cope with stress and ease the trauma
Tools to help survivors chart a path to recovery
Disaster preparedness training so people know the steps to take to protect themselves and their families

The fifth anniversary of Katrina should be a reminder that the unthinkable can happen and that we all must do our part to get our homes, communities and nation ready.

Businesses, schools, and organizations should have proper safety and emergency supplies, continuity of operations plans, staff trained in CPR and first aid, and employees who are prepared at home so they can return to work soon after an emergency.
Families need a plan for how they will deal with disasters most likely for their area, a kit of materials and supplies for the needs of each person, and a way to be informed before, during and after a disaster. Someone in each family should be trained in CPR and first aid - contact your local chapter to find out how.