Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today joined United States Senator Mary L. Landrieu from Louisiana to thank New York City employees for their hard work in providing assistance to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, the City of New York quickly established a municipal fundraising campaign to raise money for victims and deployed more than 700 Police Officers, Firefighters, Correction Officers and OEM personnel to assist in the Gulf Coast region. The Mayor and Senator were joined at City Hall by Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly, Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta, Office of Emergency Management (OEM) Commissioner Joseph Bruno and Correction Commissioner Martin Horn as well as Police Officers, Firefighters and OEM personnel who have returned from duty in the Gulf Coast.

"The people of Louisiana and the Gulf Coast were there for New York City after September 11th and we are proud to help in their time of need," said Mayor Bloomberg. "Over the past few weeks, the City has mobilized the largest relief operation outside the 5 boroughs in our history to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. I want to thank the more than 700 emergency service personnel for going above and beyond the call of duty, as well as those City workers who are working so hard here in New York to provide assistance to the victims in the Gulf Coast region."

"After September 11th, Louisiana was proud to stand by New York, and today we are proud to have New York stand by us" said Senator Landrieu. "On behalf of the people of New Orleans and my entire state, my deepest thanks and gratitude go out to Mayor Bloomberg and the people of New York - especially the 700 first responders who have so selflessly assisted Louisiana and the entire Gulf Coast during this time of need. We called for help, and you were there. You truly are New York's bravest and finest."

Citywide Fundraising Campaign

• On September 2nd, the Mayor announced a fundraising campaign whereby City employees could use the Combined Municipal Campaign (CMC), to make voluntary donations to more than 950 non-profit organizations including Americares, International Relief Teams, and Feed the Children.
  
  
• Any New Yorker wishing to make donations to relief organizations can also send a contribution to the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City, City Hall, New York, NY 10007 and note on the check that the donation is for "Hurricane Relief. For more information and a list of different relief agencies, New Yorkers can call 311 or visit www.nyc.gov.
  
  
• In addition, the New York City Department of Education, the Teachers and Principals Unions and DC 37 launched a Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund in the City's public schools. The fundraising effort will continue for twelve weeks, until December 1, 2005. Funds collected in the schools during the drive will be sent to the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City to give to the American Red Cross.
  

First Responders and Direct Assistance

• The City of New York has deployed more than 700 Police Officers, Firefighters, Correction Officers and OEM personnel and others to assist in the relief effort.
  
  
• More than 300 Police Officers engaged in regular police patrols, rescue work, and delivery of emergency food and water supplies in the French Quarter of New Orleans and in various towns in neighboring Jefferson Parish, just west of New Orleans. The last of these Police Officers returned to New York City yesterday.
  
  
• The FDNY continues to maintain approximately 300 firefighters in New Orleans. (A first deployment of 320 has returned and was replaced by another 270). They will be in New Orleans at least through the end of September. The FDNY played a critical role in helping the New Orleans Fire Department (NOFD) with resource planning, logistics, safety and command and augmented NOFD firefighting capabilities. FDNY members were engaged in a number of structural fires and emergencies such as gas leaks throughout the City. On Tuesday, September 6, they fought nine major fires. The FDNY personnel have also engaged in the decontamination of fire apparatus and in basic maintenance/repair of NOFD firehouses.
  
  FDNY contributed five pieces of apparatus, including "The Spirit of Louisiana" - formerly Engine 283 (Brownsville, Brooklyn) - to the relief effort. The convoy also included the FDNY Mobile Command Center staffed with four communications personnel, two supply trucks and a fuel truck.
  
  15 members of the FDNY's Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART), which is made up of active and retired New York City Firefighters working with the American Red Cross, were also sent to the Gulf Coast region. They are currently operating in Gulf Port, Mississippi.
  
  
• A 33-member New York City Urban Search and Rescue team made up of Police Officers, Firefighters, and OEM personnel was deployed shortly after the Hurricane hit and was operating in the region (mostly in the Gulfport Mississippi area) for 9 days. They are now back in NYC.
  
  
• The NYC Department of Correction sent cots, clothing, canned goods and now has more than 65 uniformed staff to assist Louisiana State Correction. They are currently operating in New Orleans and at other correctional facilities around the state assisting with perimeter patrol, inmate transport and the processing of inmates arrested in the storm areas.
  
  
• On September 3rd, the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) sent 73 buses and 200 personnel to help transport victims of the Hurricane from New Orleans to Dallas, Texas and Little Rock, Arkansas. The buses were also used to help transport the National Guard to various assignments. The buses are now back in New York City.
  
  
• OEM, working with Human Resources Administration (HRA), the Department of Homeless Services (DHS), the Red Cross, Salvation Army, CUNY and NYCares, has also set up a Disaster Assistance Service Center for Hurricane victims who have relocated to NYC. Victims have been provided with access to a variety of services including shelter and clothing, assistance in obtaining social services, registration for school and other services. 306 people have been helped at the center since opening last Thursday.
  
  
• 83 students from the Gulf Coast have enrolled in New York City public schools.