Hurricane Katrina Information and Relief Efforts
FEMA: Hotlines and Websites for Missing Persons, Volunteers, and Donations
Relief Organizations
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is moving ice, water, meals, Search and Rescue and Disaster Medical Assistance teams into areas hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina. Click here to visit FEMA's web site.
To apply for assistance call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). The speech or hearing impaired may call (TTY) 1-800-462-7585. You may also register for assistance online here. In addition, you may find FEMA's "Help After a Disaster: Applicant's Guide to the Individuals & Households Program" helpful.
To find local shelters and other state specific information please visit:
Louisiana Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness
(225) 925-7500
Mississippi Emergency Management Agency
601-960-9020
Alabama Emergency Management Agency
1-800-843-0699
1-866-GET-INFO (1-866-438-4636)
How to Help
Volunteer agencies provide a wide variety of services after disasters, such as clean up, childcare, housing repair, crisis counseling, sheltering and food. Below is a list of phone numbers approved by FEMA set up solely for cash donations and/or volunteers:
American Red Cross
1-800-HELP NOW (435-7669) English,
1-800-257-7575 Spanish
Southern Baptist Convention -- Disaster Relief
1-800-462-8657, ext. 6440
Salvation Army
1-800-SAL-ARMY (725-2769)
America's Second Harvest
1-800-344-8070
Adventist Community Services
1-800-381-7171
Catholic Charities, USA
703 549-1390
Christian Disaster Response
941-956-5183 or 941-551-9554
Christian Reformed World Relief Committee
1-800-848-5818
Church World Service
1-800-297-1516
Convoy of Hope
417-823-8998
Lutheran Disaster Response
800-638-3522
Mennonite Disaster Service
717-859-2210
Nazarene Disaster Response
888-256-5886
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
800-872-3283
United Methodist Committee on Relief
1-800-554-8583
Below is a list of Jewish relief organizations provided by the National Jewish Democratic Council (these groups may or may not be sanctioned by FEMA):
Union for Reform Judaism Disaster Relief Fund
212-452-6526
United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism Hurricane Relief Fund
212-533-7800
Orthodox Union's Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund
212-563-4000
United Jewish Community's Hurricane Katrina Disaster Relief Fund
877-277-2477
American Jewish Committee's Hurricane Katrina Fund
212-751-4000
310-442-0020
Disaster Relief Donation through B'nai B'rith
202-857-6600
Chabad-Lubavitch of New Orleans Disaster Relief Fund
504-866-5164
Additional Resources
Relatives and loved ones who are struggling to cope with the devastation of the disaster and loss of life can contact their local American Red Cross to speak with a Disaster Mental Health volunteer.
Updated information about Hurricane Katrina
For updated information about the hurricane and relief efforts, please visit the FEMA and National Hurricane Center web sites.