On August 29, 2005, Category 4 Hurricane Katrina made landfall at Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama on the U.S. Gulf Coast. The hurricane caused terrible damage and destruction, especially in and around the city of New Orleans where it breached the city’s levee system.

Evacuation, preparation, and response to the hurricane were inadequate. To help fill the gap, ARC organized and led Operation Minnesota Lifeline, a coalition of Minnesota organizations, to provide health care and relief services to hurricane survivors. The operation marked ARC’s first domestic relief operation.

What ARC did in Louisiana:

• Chronic, Mental, and Elderly Health Care
• Primary Health Care 
• Mass Immunization Campaigns
• Emergency Supplies Distribution
  

Operational From: September-November 2005

In all, Operation Minnesota Lifeline sent 257 volunteers to provide medical care. Their efforts were critical in providing the health care so many people required.

Operation Minnesota Lifeline was able to serve evacuees in Louisiana for two months. The teams improved and stabilized the health and well-being of thousands of evacuees. We handed over clinic staffing responsibilites once local officials had a plan to meet the primary care needs of the people of the region.

Operation Minnesota Lifeline Statistics: