Operation Air Care: Homeland Security, Airlines Co-Operating

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Press Release September 2, 2005

U.S. AIRLINES PROVIDE EMERGENCY AIRLIFT FOR NEW ORLEANS EVACUEES ATA to Coordinate

The Department of Homeland Security, the Air Transport Association and the Department of Transportation today announced that the airline industry has launched "Operation Air Care" to provide emergency airlift to more than 25,000 New Orleans residents stranded in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Passenger carriers participating in this effort include Alaska, America West, American, ATA, Continental, Delta, Jet Blue, Northwest, Southwest, United, US Airways, and Air Canada. Cargo carriers also are providing support, including ASTAR Air Cargo, Federal Express and UPS Airlines.

"DHS is truly grateful to the airlines for their immediate and generous contribution to help us to bring hurricane victims to safety," said Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Jackson. "This extraordinary civilian airlift is unprecedented in U.S. history, and is a shining example of how America can come together to help those in need," said ATA President and CEO James C. May.

"Our member airlines have willingly offered to help the federal government get the job done and we will continue these efforts until they are no longer needed." "We've cleared the runways and are watching the skies to make sure these humanitarian flights get in and out safely," said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta.

"From the moment Hurricane Katrina passed, the DOT has been working around the clock to put the people and equipment in place to sustain a massive airlift operation." The plan, which was crafted late in the evening Thursday, allowed the first flight to New Orleans at 8 a.m. today.

Participating airlines will provide aircrafts and service to airlift evacuees. Flights will depart from Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport to sites designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, such as Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.

...

This all-volunteer effort is being coordinated by the Air Transport Association and its member carriers, who are providing aircraft and crews who have volunteered their time to this incredible effort.

Comments

[Isanah]

Some of those airlines need to answer as to why they closed so soon in the N.O. area prior to the storm. Those tourists should have had every opportunity to evacuate and the airlines should be held more responsible in not ensuring they had available flights. They sure loved taking their tourist dollars, then abandoned them knowing the potential of Hurricane Katrina!

[!]

Lets just all be grateful that they are helping and quit complaining so much. The slow response to a lot of this rest on the governors lap based on the research that was done as to why so long. If you do not ask for help and let someone know what you need you cannot send help in.
Lets pray that help gets to the convention center tonite !!!!! Consequences will result if they are not tended to now !! Get word out.

PLEASE HELP THESE PEOPLE. ITS NOT THEIR FAULT.
ALOT OF THE PROBLEMS WERE THEY DID NOT KNOW THE LEVEE'S WERE GOING TO BREAK !!

Lets come together now and help these people. The thugs need to be gathered up , the others need help.

[Isanah]

Posted by: ! | Sep 2, 2005 8:36:42 PM

Excuse me? I'm not posting just to complain. I was making a valid point pertaining to the posted article. It is not my wish to be seen ungrateful to the help the airlines are now offering, even if the help is conditional on FEMA replacement of costs.

[momma]

dan,
Geraldo is crying and sho is shep on hannity...put it on please

[Hooch]

Is Geraldo really crying or really trying to cry? Shep was more believable.

[Andrew]

Isanah have you given any THOUGHT as to the damage done to Louis Armstrong? This airfield was subjected to the same amout of punishment as the rest of the city. Power taken out (no RADARs or radios DUH!) Hangers taken out and oh yeah FLOODED runways. What do you think these things are seaplanes?

So before you try to complain may I suggest getting to things: Commen sense and BRAINS THINK!