Rescued, New Orleans

© 2005 The Times-Picayune Publishing Co., 

all rights reserved. Used with permission of the 

Times-Picayune
67

Hurricane Katrina: 

Timeline of Key Events

Dates (all 2005) and Times (all Central) of Event

Tuesday, August 23

4 p.m.: Tropical Depression 12 develops about 200 miles southeast of Nassau in the Bahamas.1

Thursday, August 25

2:30 p.m.: Th e tropical storm is elevated to a hurricane and is named “Katrina.”2

4 p.m.: Th e National Hurricane Center, for the fi rst time, reports that some models show 

Katrina coming ashore “between Mobile, Alabama, and Grand Isle, Louisiana.” Katrina, still 

about 15 miles east of Florida, is expected to gradually strengthen once in the Gulf of Mexico.3

5:30 p.m.: Katrina makes landfall in Florida as a Category 1 hurricane.4

Friday, August 26

10:30 a.m.: Katrina, still moving westward, is elevated to a Category 2 hurricane, with note 

that the storm “could become a category three or major hurricane on Saturday.”5

11 a.m.: National Hurricane Center offi cials state in a video teleconference that their prediction models indicate a shift in Katrina’s path west “towards New Orleans.” Prior models had 

predicted a probable strike in the Florida panhandle.6

1 p.m.: Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco declares a State of Emergency and activates her 

state’s National Guard.7

Aft ernoon-Evening: Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour declares a State of Emergency and 

activates his state’s National Guard.8

4 p.m.: NHC issues an offi cial forecast shift ing Katrina’s track 170 miles west, predicting a 

probable Category 4 hurricane striking the Mississippi coast near the Alabama border with 

landfall on Monday, August 29.9

10 p.m.: NHC issues a forecast shift ing the track farther west and predicting a probable strike 

at or near the Louisiana-Mississippi border, east of New Orleans, on Monday, August 29.10

Saturday, August 27

4 a.m.: NHC issues a forecast stating that Katrina is a Category 3 hurricane and predicting a 

direct hit on New Orleans.11

6 a.m.: FEMA headquarters begins 24-hour operations in Washington, D.C.12

7:30 a.m.: National Weather Service, in teleconference, informs Louisiana state and local 

offi cials that the probable path of the storm is “smack dab through the metropolitan New 

Orleans area.”13

9 a.m.: Th e fi rst phase of the Louisiana Emergency Evacuation Plan begins. Under Phase 

I, citizens in coastal areas, south of the Intracoastal Waterway, would evacuate 50 hours 

before a Category 3 or stronger hurricane hits.14

Chapter 5
Chapter 5

68

11:41 a.m.: Governor Blanco requests a declaration of a federal state of emergency for Louisiana under the Staff ord Act. President Bush issues the declaration later in the day.15

12 p.m.: Phase II of the Louisiana Emergency Evacuation Plan is initiated.16

1 p.m.: (approximately) New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin, in a joint press conference 

with Governor Blanco, declares a State of Emergency, announces he will issue a voluntary 

evacuation order, and announces that the Superdome will open at 8 a.m. on Sunday as a 

special-needs shelter.17

2 p.m.: Louisiana Emergency Operations Center in Baton Rouge goes to 24-hour operations.18

4 p.m.: Th e fi nal phase of the Louisiana Emergency Evacuation Plan is initiated and contrafl ow evacuation by highway begins.19

7 p.m.: National Weather Service advises City of New Orleans Offi ce of Emergency Preparedness that the New Orleans levees could be overtopped.20

7:25-8 p.m.: NHC Director Max Mayfi eld briefs Governor Blanco, Governor Barbour, 

and Mayor Nagin about Katrina’s potential impact.21 Late evening traffi c from Louisiana’s 

evacuation into Mississippi subsides, allowing Mississippi to issue mandatory evacuations 

for three coastal counties – Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson.22

10 p.m.: NHC issues fi rst offi cial storm-surge forecast for Katrina, predicting surge fl ooding of 15 to 20 feet above normal tides and locally as high as 25 feet. NHC issues Hurricane Warning for north-central Gulf Coast from Morgan City, Louisiana, eastward to the 

Alabama-Florida border, including the City of New Orleans. Hurricane-force winds are 

expected within 24 hours.23

Sunday, August 28

President Bush issues federal emergency declarations for Mississippi and Alabama, and 

declares Florida a federal disaster area.24 Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana Governors 

request Presidential Major Disaster Declarations; they are signed the next day.25

1 a.m.: NHC issues Special Advisory: “Katrina Strengthens to Category 4 with 145 mph 

winds.”26

7 a.m.: NHC issues Special Advisory stating that Katrina is “now a potentially catastrophic 

category 5 hurricane” with maximum sustained winds near 160 mph.27

8 a.m.: Th e Superdome is opened as a special-needs shelter.28

9:30 a.m.: Mayor Nagin orders a mandatory evacuation of Orleans Parish.29

10 a.m.: NHC increases storm-surge forecast to 18 to 22 feet above normal tide levels and 

locally as high as 28 feet.30

11 a.m.: During a daily video teleconference with the President, DHS headquarters, FEMA 

headquarters, FEMA’s regional offi ces, and representatives from Louisiana and Mississippi, 

National Hurricane Center Director Max Mayfi eld states, “I don’t think any model can tell 

you with any confi dence right now whether the levees will be topped or not, but that’s obviously a very, very grave concern.” FEMA Director Michael Brown says, “Just keep jamming 

those lines full as much as you can with commodities.”31

12 p.m.: Th e Superdome is opened as a “refuge of last resort” for the general population.32
Hurricane Katrina: Timeline of Key Events

69

4 p.m.: NHC issues fi rst offi cial forecast addressing New Orleans levees which states, “Some 

levees in the greater New Orleans area could be overtopped.”33

5 p.m.: Contrafl ow highway evacuation in Louisiana ends.34

Monday, August 29

12:47 a.m.: A Department of Homeland Security assessment detailing the storm’s likely 

impact is e-mailed to the White House’s Homeland Security Operations Center (HSOC).35

6:10-7 a.m.: On August 29, at approximately 6:10 a.m. CT, Hurricane Katrina’s eye makes 

landfall at Buras on the Louisiana coast between Grand Isle and the mouth of the Mississippi River. Storm surge overtops the levees on the east bank of the river, “crosses” the river, 

overtops the levees on the west bank, and sends additional water into neighborhoods in 

Plaquemines Parish. Th e center of Hurricane Katrina moves ashore into southeast Louisiana just east of Grand Isle.36 Morning Catastrophic fl ooding begins in New Orleans resulting from massive overtopping of levees in east Orleans and St. Bernard Parishes, overtopping and breaking of the Industrial Canal levees, and breaks in the 17th Street and London 

Avenue Canal fl oodwalls.37 Th e Superdome’s roof begins to leak; it loses air conditioning, 

plumbing in all but the fi rst fl oor, and its communication system. A backup generator provides minimal lighting.38

10 a.m.: Hurricane Katrina makes landfall in Mississippi. Storm surge reported 20 feet 

above normal in Biloxi area.39

Aft ernoon: State and local fi rst responders’ communications begin to fail in the Greater New 

Orleans area and Mississippi.42

Mid–aft ernoon: Search-and-rescue operations begin by the U.S. Coast Guard, the New 

Orleans Police and Fire Departments, the Louisiana National Guard, and the Louisiana 

Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.40

2-3 p.m.: Local offi cials in Mississippi begin search and rescue.41

Evening: FEMA Director Brown assures Governor Blanco that FEMA will send 500 buses to 

New Orleans the next day.43

10 p.m.: MEMA search-and-rescue teams arrive and immediately begin life-saving 

operations.44

Tuesday, August 30

Mayor Nagin opens the New Orleans Convention Center as a refuge for the general 

population.45

10:30 a.m.: Acting Deputy Secretary of Defense orders U.S. Northern Command to move 

all necessary assets to the Gulf Coast, giving blanket authority for forces to provide military 

assistance.46

4 p.m.: U.S. Army Lieutenant General Russel Honoré is designated Commander of Joint 

Task Force Katrina.47 Evening Plumbing fails completely at the Superdome. Conditions at 

the stadium deteriorate due to the massive crowds and lack of air conditioning and sanitation.48 DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff declares Katrina an “incident of national signifi -

cance.” Chertoff designates Michael Brown as the Principal Federal Offi cial (PFO) to manage the response and recovery operations for Hurricane Katrina.49
Chapter 5

70

Late evening: Governor Blanco directs the Department of Social Services to fi nd a shelter by 

6 a.m. Wednesday for at least 25,000 people.50

Wednesday, August 31

Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt declares a public-health emergency 

for Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, and Alabama.51 Governor Blanco issues an Executive 

Order to commandeer school buses.52

1:30-1:45 a.m.: FEMA, for the fi rst time, mission-assigns DOT to send buses to New Orleans.53

8:30-9:30 a.m.: Governor Blanco calls Governor Rick Perry of Texas to request that the 

Houston Astrodome open to house New Orleans evacuees.54

11 a.m.: Chief of the federal National Guard Bureau directs all state Adjutants General to 

rapidly deploy available National Guard troops to Louisiana and Mississippi.55

2:30 p.m.: Governor Blanco and President Bush discuss by telephone the need for military 

assistance and the Governor’s command of the Louisiana National Guard in a unifi ed-command structure.56

4:11 p.m.: President Bush holds a Cabinet meeting at the White House and speaks publicly 

to outline federal relief eff orts.57

Evening: Some federally contracted buses arrive in New Orleans and begin evacuation of 

overpasses and special-needs shelter.58

Thursday, September 1

10 a.m.: Bus evacuation of the general population begins at the Superdome.59

Late Evening: Colonel Terry Ebbert, New Orleans Director of Homeland Security and Public Safety, requests assistance from Louisiana National Guard commander Major General 

Bennett Landreneau to secure and evacuate the Convention Center in conjunction with the 

New Orleans Police Department.60

Friday, September 2

President Bush makes his fi rst visit to the Gulf States aft er Katrina and meets with the governors of Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi; and Mayor Nagin in New Orleans. 61

Late Morning: In a private meeting, the President and Governor Blanco discuss command 

and control for the military response.62

12-12:30 p.m.: 1,000 National Guard forces (LA, TX, OK, NV, and AR) move toward the 

Convention Center and secure the building to begin relief operations.63

11:20 p.m.: White House faxes proposal to Governor Blanco under which there would 

be appointed a dual-status commander who would be an active-duty military offi cer and 

who would exercise command and control on behalf of the Governor over National Guard 

forces and on behalf of the President over federal active-duty forces.64

Saturday, September 3

8:56 a.m.: Governor Blanco declines the White House proposal to appoint a dual-status 

commander and retains sole command of National Guard troops in Louisiana.65

9:06 a.m.: President Bush orders 7,200 active-duty troops to the Gulf Coast.66
Hurricane Katrina: Timeline of Key Events

71

10 a.m.: Convention Center evacuation begins.67

1 p.m.: Superdome evacuation is complete.68

6:30 p.m.: Convention Center evacuation is complete.69

Monday, September 5

I-10 Cloverleaf and Causeway Boulevard evacuations are complete.70 Coast Guard Admiral 

Th ad Allen is appointed Deputy PFO.71

Tuesday, September 6

5 a.m.: Search and recovery eff orts in New Orleans continue.72

1 National Hurricane Center, Tropical Depression 12, Advisory #1, Aug. 23, 2005, 5 p.m. ET. Provided to Committee; 

National Hurricane Center, Tropical Depression 12, Forecast/Advisory #1, Aug. 23, 2005, 2100 Z. Provided to Committee. Both documents fi led as Bates nos. DHS-FEMA-0037-0000014 through 0000017.

2 National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Katrina Forecast Timeline, 2006, p. 1. Provided to Committee [hereinaft er 

NHC Timeline].

3 National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Katrina Discussion #9, and Hurricane Katrina Advisory #9, both Aug. 25, 2005, 

5 p.m. ET. Provided to Committee; fi led as Bates nos. DHS-FEMA-0037-0000147 through 0000150.

4 NHC Timeline, p. 1.

5 National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Katrina Special Advisory #13, Aug. 26, 2005, 11:30 a.m. ET. Provided to Committee; fi led as Bates no. DHS-FEMA-0037-0000217. 

6 Bill Reed, FEMA Daily Video Teleconference, Aug. 26, 2005, transcript p. 7. Provided to Committee; fi led as Bates no. 

DHS-FEMA-0105-0000028; NHC Timeline, p. 1. 

7 Louisiana’s Preparation and Response to Hurricane Katrina, Integrated Timeline, p. 6. Provided to Committee; State 

of Louisiana, Offi ce of the Governor, Proclamation No. 48 KBB 2005, Aug. 26, 2005; Louisiana Offi ce of the Governor, 

Response to the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Aff airs Document and Information 

Request Dated October 7, 2005 and to the U.S. House of Representatives Select Committee to Investigate the Preparation for and Response to Hurricane Katrina, Overview of Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco’s Actions in Preparation 

for and Response to Hurricane Katrina, Dec. 2, 2005, p. 2 [hereinaft er Louisiana Offi ce of the Governor, Governor’s 

Timeline].

8 State of Mississippi, Offi ce of the Governor, Executive Order No. 939, Aug. 26, 2005. Provided to Committee; fi led as 

Bates nos. MEMA 0009765 through 0009766; Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), Preparedness and 

Response Timeline – Hurricane Katrina, p. 1. Provided to Committee; fi led as Bates no. MEMA 0010678 [hereinaft er 

MEMA, Hurricane Katrina Timeline].

9 National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Katrina Advisory #14, Hurricane Katrina Discussion #14, and Hurricane 

Katrina Probabilities #14, all Aug. 26, 2005, 5 p.m. ET. Provided to Committee. All documents fi led as Bates nos. DHSFEMA-0037-0000229 through 0000234. See also: National Hurricane Center, “Katrina Graphics Archive,” Aug. 30, 2005. 

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/KATRINA_graphics.shtml. Accessed on Apr. 30, 2006. 

10 National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Katrina Forecast/Advisory #15, Aug. 26, 2005, 0300 Z; Hurricane Katrina 

Advisory #15, Aug. 26, 2005, 11 p.m. ET; Hurricane Katrina Discussion #15, Aug. 26, 2005, 11 p.m. ET; and Hurricane 

Katrina Probabilities #15, Aug. 26, 2005, 11 p.m. ET. Provided to Committee. All documents fi led as Bates nos. DHSFEMA-0037-0000238 through 0000245; NHC Timeline, p. 2; National Hurricane Center, “Katrina Graphics Archive,” 

Aug. 30, 2005. Provided to Committee; fi led as Bates no. DHS-FEMA-0037-0000237; National Hurricane Center, “Katrina Graphics Archive,” Aug. 30, 2005. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/KATRINA_graphics.shtml. Accessed on 

Apr. 30, 2006.

11 NHC Timeline, p. 2; National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Katrina Forecast/Advisory #16, Aug. 27, 2005, 0900 Z; 

Hurricane Katrina Advisory #16, Aug. 27, 2005, 5 a.m. ET; Hurricane Katrina Discussion #16, Aug. 27, 2005, 5 a.m. ET; 

and Hurricane Katrina Probabilities #16, Aug. 27, 2005, 5 a.m. ET. Provided to Committee; Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), National Situation Report, Aug. 27, 2005, 5:30 a.m. Provided to Committee. All documents fi led 

as Bates nos. DHS-FEMA-0037-0000253 through 0000261; National Hurricane Center, “Katrina Graphics Archive,” 

Aug. 30, 2005. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/KATRINA_graphics.shtml. Accessed on Apr. 30, 2006.

12 U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Situation Report #4, Aug. 27, 2005, 6 a.m., p. 11. Provided to Committee; 

fi led as Bates no. DHS 0001123.
Chapter 5

72

13 Louisiana Offi ce of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (LOHSEP), Hurricane Katrina Conference Call 

#2, Aug. 27, 2005, 7:30 a.m. CT, transcript p. 10. Provided to Committee.

14 Louisiana’s Preparation and Response to Hurricane Katrina, Integrated Timeline, p. 10. Provided to Committee; State 

of Louisiana and U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Louisiana Citizen Awareness Disaster and Evacuation Guide 

[hereinaft er Louisiana Citizen Awareness Guide].

15 LOHSEP, Letter to President George W. Bush, Aug. 27, 2005. Provided to Committee; Louisiana Offi ce of the Governor, Governor’s Timeline, pp. 3-4; Th e White House, “Statement on Federal Emergency Assistance for Louisiana,” press 

release, Aug. 27, 2005. http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/08/20050827-1.html. Accessed on Jan. 17, 2006.

16 Louisiana’s Preparation and Response to Hurricane Katrina, Integrated Timeline, p. 11; Louisiana Citizen Awareness 

Guide.

17 City of New Orleans, Mayors Press Offi ce, “Mayor Nagin Urges Citizens to Prepare for Hurricane Katrina,” press 

release, Aug. 27, 2005. Provided to Committee.

18 Louisiana’s Preparation and Response to Hurricane Katrina, Integrated Timeline, p. 12. Provided to Committee; 

Louisiana Offi ce of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, Emergency Operations Plan, Apr. 2005, p. 5 [hereinaft er Louisiana Emergency Operations Plan]. 

19 Louisiana’s Preparation and Response to Hurricane Katrina, Integrated Timeline, p. 13. Provided to Committee; 

Louisiana Citizen Awareness Guide.

20 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), briefi ng on National Weather Service Products and 

Services During Katrina, given to Senate Committee staff , Feb. 7, 2006, p. 12.

21 NHC Timeline, p. 3; Testimony of Max Mayfi eld, Director, Tropical Prediction Center and National Hurricane Center, National Weather Service, NOAA, before the U.S. House, Select Bipartisan Committee to Investigate the Preparation 

for and Response to Hurricane Katrina, hearing on Predicting Hurricanes: What We Knew About Katrina When?, Sept. 

22, 2005; Committee staff interview of Max Mayfi eld, Director, Tropical Prediction Center and National Hurricane 

Center, National Weather Service, NOAA, conducted on Jan. 27, 2006, transcript pp. 57-58.

22 MEMA, Director’s Brief, Aug. 28, 2005, 7 p.m. CT, p. 3. Provided to Committee; fi led as Bates no. MEMA 0010690; 

MEMA, Hurricane Katrina Situation Report #6, Aug. 28, 2005, 8 a.m. CT. Provided to Committee; fi led as Bates nos. 

MEMA 0010864 through 0010869.

23 National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Katrina Advisory #19, Aug. 27, 2005, 10 p.m. CT. Provided to Committee; 

National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Katrina Discussion #19, Aug. 27, 2005, 10 p.m. CT. Provided to Committee. Both 

documents fi led as Bates nos. DHS-FEMA-0037-0000314 through 0000317.

24 Th e White House, “Statement on Federal Emergency Assistance for Mississippi,” press release, Aug. 28, 2005. http://

www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/08/20050828.html. Accessed on Nov. 8, 2005; Th e White House, “Statement 

on Federal Emergency Assistance for Alabama,” press release, Aug. 28, 2005. http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/08/20050828-3.html. Accessed on Nov. 8, 2005; Th e White House, “Statement on Federal Disaster Assistance for 

Florida,” press release, Aug. 28, 2005. http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/08/20050828-2.html. Accessed on 

Nov. 8, 2005.

25 U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Situation Report #9, Aug. 30, 2005, 6 p.m., p. 3. Provided to Committee; fi led 

as Bates no. DHS 0001234.

26 National Hurricane Center, Special Advisory #20, Aug. 28, 2005, 1 a.m. CT. Provided to Committee; fi led as Bates 

nos. DHS-FEMA-0037-0000323 through 0000324.

27 National Hurricane Center, Special Advisory #22, Aug. 28, 2005, 7 a.m. CT. Provided to Committee; fi led as Bates 

nos. DHS-FEMA-0037-0000367 through 0000368.

28 City of New Orleans, Mayor’s Press Offi ce, “Mayor Nagin Urges Citizens to Prepare for Hurricane Katrina,” press 

release, Aug. 27, 2005. Provided to Committee; Mayor Ray Nagin and Kevin Stephens, City of New Orleans Health 

Department, Response to the U.S. Senate, Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Aff airs, hearing on 

Challenges in a Catastrophe: Evacuating New Orleans in Advance of Hurricane Katrina, Jan. 31, 2006, pp. 4-5. 

29 City of New Orleans, Mayor’s Press Offi ce, “Mayor Nagin Issues Mandatory Evacuation,” press release, Aug. 28, 2005. 

Provided to Committee; Mayor Ray Nagin, CNN, “New Orleans Mayor, Louisiana Governor Hold Press Conference,” 

Aug. 28, 2005. http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0508/28/bn.04.html. Accessed on Mar. 17, 2006.

30 National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Katrina Advisory #23, Aug. 28, 2005, 10 a.m. CT. Provided to Committee; fi led 

as Bates nos. DHS-FEMA-0037-0000379 through 0000380.

31 Max Mayfi eld, FEMA Daily Video Teleconference, Aug. 28, 2005, transcript p. 6. Provided to Committee; fi led as 

Bates no. DHS-FEMA-0105-0000071. Michael Brown, FEMA Daily Video Teleconference, Aug. 28, 2005, transcript p. 

29. Provided to Committee; fi led as Bates no. DHS-FEMA-0105-0000094.

32 Louisiana’s Preparation and Response to Hurricane Katrina, Integrated Timeline, p. 1. Provided to Committee; 

Written Statement of Marty Bahamonde, Director, External Aff airs, Region I, FEMA, for the U.S. Senate, Committee on 

Homeland Security and Governmental Aff airs, hearing on Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans: A Flooded City, a Chaotic 

Response, Oct. 20, 2005, p. 1.

33 National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Katrina Advisory #24, Aug. 28, 2005, 4 p.m. CT. Provided to Committee; fi led 
Hurricane Katrina: Timeline of Key Events

73

as Bates nos. DHS-FEMA-0037-0000395 through 0000396.

34 Committee staff interview of Lt. Col. Mark S. Oxley, Chief of Staff , Louisiana State Police, and Lt. Col. Joseph Booth, 

Deputy Superintendent, Crisis Response and Special Operations, Louisiana State Police, conducted on Dec. 9, 2005, 

transcript pp. 202-204.

35 Andrew Akers, e-mail to HSOC SWO and others, Aug. 29, 2005, 1:47 a.m. Provided to Committee; fi led as Bates nos. 

WHK 15399 through 15404.

36 National Space and Aeronautics Agency, “Katrina Intensifi es Into a Powerful Hurricane, Strikes Northern Gulf 

Coast,” Aug. 30, 2005. http://www.nasa.gov/vision/earth/lookingatearth/katrina_trmm_0828_0829.html. Accessed 

on Jan. 17, 2006; Richard D. Knabb, Jamie Rhome, and Daniel Brown, National Hurricane Center, “Tropical Cyclone 

Report: Hurricane Katrina,” Dec. 20, 2005, pp. 8-9 [hereinaft er NHC, “Tropical Cyclone Report, Hurricane Katrina”]; 

MEMA, Hurricane Katrina Situation Report #11, Aug. 29, 2005, 9 a.m. CT. Provided to Committee; fi led as Bates no. 

MEMA 0010905.

37 NHC, “Tropical Cyclone Report, Hurricane Katrina,” p. 9.

38 Louisiana National Guard, Timeline of Signifi cant Events, Hurricane Katrina, Dec. 7, 2005, pp. 4-5. Provided to 

Committee [hereinaft er LANG Timeline]; Committee staff interview of Lonnie Swain, Assistant Superintendent, New 

Orleans Police Department, LA, conducted on Nov. 9, 2005, transcript pp. 49-52.

39 MEMA, Hurricane Katrina Timeline, p. 4.

40 Written Statement of Capt. Bruce C. Jones, U.S. Coast Guard, Commanding Offi cer, Coast Guard Air Station New 

Orleans, for the U.S. Senate, Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Aff airs, hearing on Always Ready: 

Th e Coast Guard’s Response to Hurricane Katrina, Nov. 9, 2005, pp. 24-25; Committee staff interview of Lt. Col. Keith 

LaCaze, Assistant Administrator, Law Enforcement Division, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, conducted on Nov. 30, 2005, transcript pp. 46-47; Committee staff interview of Capt. Tim Bayard, Commander, Vice Crimes and 

Narcotics Section, New Orleans Police Department, LA, conducted on Nov. 21, 2005, transcript pp. 30-33; Committee 

staff interview of Capt. Paul Hellmers, Engine 18, Second Platoon, Sixth District, New Orleans Fire Department, LA, and 

Capt. Joseph Fincher, Engine 18, Th ird Platoon, Sixth District, New Orleans Fire Department, LA, conducted on Nov. 7, 

2005, transcript pp. 92-93, 95-96.

41 Committee staff interview of Paul Bennett, Deputy Chief of Police, Gulfport Police Department, MS, conducted on 

Dec. 8, 2005, transcript pp. 32-33.

42 Capt. Bayard interview, Nov. 21, 2005, p. 40; Lt. Col. LaCaze interview, Nov. 30, 2005, pp. 14-17; James L. Barksdale, Governor’s Commission on Recovery, Rebuilding, and Renewal, Aft er Katrina: Building Back Better than Ever, 

Dec. 31, 2005, p. 9; Testimony of Gov. Haley Barbour, Mississippi, before the U.S. Senate, Committee on Homeland 

Security and Governmental Aff airs, hearing on Hurricane Katrina: Th e Role of Governors in Managing the Catastrophe 

in the Response, Feb. 2, 2006; Written Statement of Gov. Haley Barbour, Mississippi, for the U.S. Senate, Committee on 

Homeland Security and Governmental Aff airs, hearing on Hurricane Katrina: Th e Role of Governors in Managing the 

Catastrophe in the Response, Feb. 2, 2006, pp. 1-4.

43 Louisiana Offi ce of the Governor, Governor’s Timeline, p. 7; Testimony of Maj. Gen. Bennett Landreneau, Adjutant 

General, Louisiana, before the U.S. Senate, Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Aff airs, hearing on 

Hurricane Katrina: Th e Defense Department’s Role in the Response, Feb. 9, 2006; Committee staff interview of Maj. Gen. 

Bennett Landreneau, Adjutant General, Louisiana, conducted on Jan. 11, 2006, transcript pp. 33-34, 140-141, 273-274.

44 Committee staff interview of Pat Sullivan, Chief, Gulfport Fire Department, MS, conducted on Dec. 7, 2005, transcript pp. 97-98.

45 Written Statement of Mayor C. Ray Nagin, City of New Orleans, LA, for the U.S. Senate, Committee on Homeland 

Security and Governmental Aff airs, hearing on Hurricane Katrina: Managing the Crisis and Evacuating New Orleans, 

Feb. 1, 2006, p. 4; Penya Moses-Fields, letter to Th e Honorable Susan M. Collins and Th e Honorable Joseph I. Lieberman, Jan. 30, 2006, “Attachment A: Timeline of Mayor Nagin’s Activities, Aug. 26, 2005 – Sept. 6, 2005.”

46 Clair Blong, e-mail to Fema-NRCC and others, Aug. 30, 2005, 10:51 p.m. Provided to Committee; Col. David Rhodes, 

e-mail to Tom Eldridge, Dan Berkovitz, and Eric Andersen, Senate Committee staff members, Apr. 19, 2006, 2:32 p.m.; 

Committee staff interview of Gen. Richard Myers, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff , conducted on Feb. 28, 

2006, transcript p. 9.

47 U.S. Department of Defense, First U.S. Army, Joint Task Force Katrina, Hurricane Katrina Chronology. Provided to 

Committee.

48 LANG Timeline, p. 6; Swain interview, Nov. 9, 2005, p. 73.

49 Sec. Michael Chertoff , memorandum to various DHS offi cials, “Designation of Principal Federal Offi cial for Hurricane Katrina,” Aug. 30, 2005. Provided to Committee; U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Situation Report #11, 

Aug. 31, 2005, 6 p.m. ET, p. 2. Provided to Committee; fi led as Bates no. DHS 0001266.

50 Louisiana Offi ce of the Governor, Governor’s Timeline, p. 9; Committee staff interview of Sec. Ann Williamson, Louisiana Department of Social Services, conducted on Dec. 12, 2005, transcript pp. 98-99.

51 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, “Disasters & Emergencies: Hurricanes, HHS Declares Public Health 

Emergency for Hurricane Katrina,” Aug. 31, 2005. http://www.hhs.gov/emergency/determination.html. Accessed on 

Dec. 9, 2005.
Chapter 5

74

52 Louisiana Offi ce of the Governor, Governor’s Timeline, p. 11; State of Louisiana, Executive Order No. KBB 2005-31.

53 U.S. Department of Transportation, Actions for Hurricane Katrina: Annotated Chronology of Signifi cant Events, Oct. 

6, 2005, p. 4. Provided to Committee; FEMA, Tasking Request and Assignment Form, LRC-Katrina-378, Aug. 31, 2005. 

Provided to Committee.

54 Louisiana Offi ce of the Governor, Governor’s Timeline, p. 10; Sec. Williamson interview, Dec. 12, 2005, pp. 105-106.

55 National Guard Bureau, Aft er Action Review, Hurricane Response September 2005, Dec. 21, 2005, p. 14. Provided to 

Committee.

56 Louisiana Offi ce of the Governor, Governor’s Timeline, pp. 9-10; Testimony of Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco, 

Louisiana, before the U.S. Senate, Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Aff airs, hearing on Hurricane 

Katrina: Th e Role of the Governors in Managing the Catastrophe, Feb. 2, 2006; Committee staff interview of Terry Ryder, 

Executive Counsel, Offi ce of the Governor, LA, conducted on Jan. 10, 2006, transcript pp. 200-203.

57 Th e White House, “President Outlines Hurricane Katrina Relief Eff orts,” press release, Aug. 31, 2005. http://www.

whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/08/20050831-3.html. Accessed on Mar. 7, 2006.

58 U.S. Department of Transportation, Actions for Hurricane Katrina, Annotated Chronology of Signifi cant Events, Oct. 

6, 2005, pp. 3-4.

59 U.S. Department of Transportation, Actions for Hurricane Katrina, Annotated Chronology of Signifi cant Events,

Oct. 6, 2005, p. 5; LANG Timeline, p. 7; Committee staff interview of Brig. Gen. Mark Graham, U.S. Army, Deputy 

Commanding General, Fift h U.S. Army, U.S. Department of Defense, conducted on Jan. 12, 2006, transcript pp. 76-80; 

Committee staff interview of Dolph Diemont, Region X Regional Emergency Transportation Representative, Offi ce of 

Intelligence, Security and Emergency Response, U.S. Department of Transportation, conducted on Jan. 6, 2006, transcript pp. 57-59; Committee staff interview of Col. Jacques Th ibodeaux, Joint Director of Military Support to Civilian 

Authorities, Louisiana National Guard, conducted on Jan. 12, 2006, transcript p. 24.

60 LANG Timeline, p. 7; Maj. Gen. Landreneau interview, Jan. 11, 2006, pp. 265-266.

61 Th e White House, “President Heads to Hurricane Katrina Aff ected Areas,” press release, Sept. 2, 2005. http://www.

whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/09/print/20050902.html. Accessed on Apr. 24, 2006;

Th e White House, “President Remarks on Hurricane Recovery Eff orts,” press release, Sept. 2, 2005. www.whitehouse.

gov/news/releases/2005/09/20050902-8.html. Accessed on Mar. 6, 2006; Louisiana Offi ce of the Governor, Governor’s 

Timeline, p. 14.

62 Louisiana Offi ce of the Governor, Governor’s Timeline, p. 14; Gov. Blanco, Senate Committee hearing, Feb. 2, 2006.

63 Louisiana’s Preparation and Response to Hurricane Katrina, Integrated Timeline, p. 46. Provided to Committee; 

LANG Timeline, p. 8.

64 Th e White House, memorandum to Governor Blanco, “Memorandum of Agreement Concerning Authorization, 

Consent, and Use of Dual Status Commander for JTF-Katrina,” Sept. 2, 2005. Provided to Committee; Ryder interview, 

Jan. 6, 2006, pp. 234-235; Committee staff interview of Andy Kopplin, then Chief of Staff , Offi ce of the Governor, LA, 

conducted on Jan.10, 2006, transcript p. 148.

65 Ryder interview, Jan. 10, 2006, pp. 248-252; Terry Ryder, Handwritten Notes, Sept. 3, 2005. Provided to Committee. 

66 U.S. Department of Defense, Hurricane Katrina/Rita Comprehensive Timeline, p. 16. Provided to Committee; Th e 

White House, “President Addresses Nation: Discusses Hurricane Katrina Relief Eff orts,” press release, Sept. 3, 2005. 

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/09/20050903.html. Accessed on Mar. 6, 2006.

67 Col. Th ibodeaux interview, Jan. 12, 2006, pp. 33-35; Col. Jacques Th ibodeaux, Timeline, p. 9. Provided to Committee; 

Louisiana’s Preparation and Response to Hurricane Katrina, Integrated Timeline, p. 49. Provided to Committee.

68 Louisiana’s Preparation and Response to Hurricane Katrina, Integrated Timeline, p. 49. Provided to Committee.

69 Col. Th ibodeaux interview, Jan. 12, 2006, pp. 34-35; Col. Jacques Th ibodeaux, Timeline, p. 9. Provided to Committee.

70 Louisiana’s Preparation and Response to Hurricane Katrina, Integrated Timeline, p. 52. Provided to Committee.

71 U.S. Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism, Th e Federal Response to Hurricane 

Katrina: Lessons Learned. Washington: Government Printing Offi ce, Feb. 2006, p. 47.

72 U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Situation Report #22, Sept. 6, 2005, 6 a.m., p. 2. Provided to Committee; fi led 

as Bates no. DHS 0001462.
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