FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AFA SALUTES AIR FORCE RELIEF EFFORT IN RESPONSE TO HURRICANE KATRINA

Contact: Ladd Everitt at (703) 247-5847 or leveritt@afa.org

Arlington, VA, September 8, 2005 – More than a week after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, the Air Force continues its fever-pitch support effort to aid the people affected by the disaster. Airmen, aircraft and equipment from bases nationwide are playing a vital role in the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)-directed relief efforts. The Air Force is involved in search and rescue, recovery, airlift and aeromedical evacuation operations.

To date, the Air Force has flown 4,139 missions in the relief effort. Those missions have moved more than 22,700 passengers and 10,400 tons of supplies and equipment. Air Force helicopter crews have saved more than 4,900 people and an Air Force Expeditionary Medical Squadron located at Louis Armstrong International Airport has treated more than 5,500 people. Additionally, Air Force evacuation teams have transported 2,600 patients. The Total Force—Active Duty, Air Guard and Air Force Reserve units—using a mix of air support, medical personnel, logistics and vital services such as civil engineering, will remain engaged as long as needed.

“The Air Force Association (AFA) salutes the Air Force for the prompt and tireless emergency assistance it has provided during this terrible crisis,” said AFA Executive Director Donald L. Peterson. “We could not be more proud of the work that our Airmen are doing to assist Hurricane Katrina’s victims during this challenging time. The men and women in our Air Force are doing what they do best—protecting their fellow citizens.”

For more information on the Air Force response to Hurricane Katrina, visit Air Force Link online at http://www.af.mil/. The Department of Defense’s Hurricane Katrina Relief Information website can be accessed at http://www.defenselink.mil/home/features/2005/katrina/index.html.

Should you wish to make a donation to assist the victims of Hurricane Katrina, a complete list of government approved charities suggested by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) can be found on their website at http://www.fema.gov/. If you want your donation to go toward helping Air Force members and their families directly, you can send your contributions to the Air Force Aid Society (AFAS), which has established a Hurricane Relief Fund. Donations can be made through the AFAS website at http://www.afas.org/ or by calling (703) 607-3073 or 1-800-769-8951.

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The Air Force Association (AFA) is an independent, nonprofit, civilian organization promoting public understanding of aerospace power and the pivotal role it plays in the security of the nation. AFA has more than 230 chapters nationwide and overseas, and more than 130,000 members. Visit us on the Internet at www.afa.org.