Statement from The Nature Conservancy on Hurricane Katrina and Relief Efforts

Conservancy's Southern U.S. Regional Program to Activate Emergency Response Team

ARLINGTON, VA—September 1, 2005—On August, 29, 2005, after slamming into Florida four days prior, Hurricane Katrina devastated the U.S. states of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. Our hearts go out to those who have suffered unimaginable loss and displacement during this time.

“You simply cannot imagine the scale of damage and flooding,” says Keith Ouchley, director of the Conservancy’s Louisiana chapter. “Eighty percent of New Orleans is flooded. In many places the water is 10 to 12 feet deep and hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses are completely inundated. Estimates are that there are still over 20,000 people trapped on the roofs of their homes and in trees surrounded by the flood water.”

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Despite the tremendous loss, The Nature Conservancy is thankful and fortunate that, as far as we know, none of our staff in the region have suffered any significant injury and our offices in Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana, though damaged, remain intact.

The Nature Conservancy stands ready to assist our local offices and the community. Our Southern U.S. Region program has activated an Emergency Response Team that will provide assistance to The Nature Conservancy’s programs in need. The team will coordinate resources once we have a better idea how best to aid recovery efforts in cooperation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), The American Red Cross, National Guard and local agencies.

While current attention is rightfully focused on the immediate human toll and suffering of this tragedy, the ecological damage has yet to be assessed, and we know it will be tremendous. As best we can, the Conservancy will monitor the impacts to the land and water environments affected by this event, and determine what can be done to restore these natural resources. In the meantime, our thoughts and hopes continue to go out to those in need.

For more information:

The Nature Conservancy in Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama
The Nature Conservancy has worked in partnership with the communities and people in these states for decades. Our hearts go out to them.
Statement: Impact of the Hurricanes in the Gulf Coast Region
Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma were national tragedies and our hearts go out to those who have suffered unimaginable loss and displacement. The first priority must be to address the needs of Gulf Coast communities that are now coping with lost lives, homes, businesses, power and security. As these needs are met, focus must then turn to the damage caused to natural systems and resources.
Statement: Impact of Hurricane Stan
As communities along the U.S. Gulf Coast and Florida struggle to get back to normal after Hurricanes Katrina and Wilma, another deadly hurricane has brought destruction to the Meso-American countries of Guatemala, Mexico, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Honduras.
How We're Helping: Nature Conservancy Helps with Hurricane Relief Effort
Nature Conservancy staff and volunteers from across the country recently volunteered in Hattiesburg, Mississippi on an assignment to help with federal Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.
How You Can Help: Support Our Work to Restore the Natural Ecosystems Damaged by the Gulf Coast Hurricanes
For more than 40 years, The Nature Conservancy has worked across the Gulf states of Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida and Texas to protect coastal habitat. Now, more than ever, action must be taken to restore these areas.