Recovery Help

The disaster recovery response to Katrina began before the storm, with Federal Emergency Management Agency preparations that ranged from logistical supply deployments to a mortuary team with refrigerated trucks. More than 11,000 Army and Air National Guardsmen and 7,200 active-duty troops are currently stationed in the Gulf Coast region to assist with hurricane relief operations. An additional 10,000 USNG troops are currently in the process of being called up and are expected to join the relief efforts shortly.
The military relief effort, known as Joint Task Force Katrina, is being commanded by Lieutenant General Russel Honoré of the US First Army.
At President Bush's urging, the U.S. Senate quickly approved a bill authorizing $10.5 billion in aid for victims on September 1, 2005. The U.S. House of Representatives voted and approved on the measure Friday, September 2, 2005 without any debate; Bush signed it into law an hour later. This is said to be only the initial aid package.
Over 50 countries have pledged money or other assistance to recovery from the hurricane including inter alia Cuba and Venezuela despite differences with Washington; Sri Lanka which is still recovering from the Tsunami; Russia whose initial offer to send a relief plane and helicopter was declined by the U.S. State Department; and Dominica one of the smallest countries in the world by any measure [39] [40].
In addition to asking for federal funds, President Bush has enlisted the help of former presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush to raise additional voluntary contributions, much as they did after the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.
Canada is sending three warships and one coast guard vessel to the US Gulf Coast to assist in the relief and reconstruction effort.
On September 3, Governor Blanco hired James Lee Witt, the well-regarded FEMA director during the Clinton Administration, to oversee recovery efforts in Louisiana [41].