What role did DoD play in the response to Hurricane Katrina?
DoD’s response to the catastrophic effects of Hurricane Katrina was the largest and most rapid military deployment within the United States since the Civil War. More than 72,000 Federal military and National Guard personnel were deployed in response to Hurricane Katrina — more than twice the number that deployed in response to Hurricane Andrew in 1992 (more than 29,000). These forces were directly employed in saving lives through extensive search and rescue, evacuation, and medical assistance. Other military capabilities employed during the response included 23 ships, 68 fixed-wing aircraft, 293 helicopters, amphibious landing craft, space-based imagery, night vision capabilities, port and waterway surveillance, mortuary teams, and large-scale construction support provided through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Navy Seabees. Additionally, nine DoD installations served as logistical staging areas for the delivery of supplies and as sites for Federal Medical Shelters. Little
