Singaporean Response To Hurricane Katrina - Relief Operations

Relief Operations

On 1 September, the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) sent three CH-47 Chinook helicopters to Louisiana to assist in relief operations. The three aircraft were based at the Peace Prairie Singapore training detachment of the Texas Army National Guard's 149th Aviation Regiment in Grand Prairie AASF, Grand Prairie, Texas. They arrived in Fort Polk, Louisiana in the afternoon of 1 September to aid rescue operations mainly in resupply and airlifting missions.

Thirty eight RSAF personnel, comprising pilots, aircrew and technicians were also deployed. The Singapore team worked with the Texas Army National Guard in the relief efforts.

On 5 September, a fourth Chinook helicopter was sent to help in the relief operations, and the number of personnel deployed increased to 45.

Throughout the Singaporean relief effort, the four Chinooks flew 61 sorties. They transported hundreds of evacuees from flooded areas to safety, especially from the Louisiana Superdome and Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. They also picked up stragglers around the New Orleans area. The Chinooks carried a total of 540 tonnes of equipment, humanitarian aid, cargo, and supplies and rescued over 800 evacuees. They were involved in moving sand bags to block up the broken levees. The number of aircraft sent exceeded that of all other foreign countries.

RSAF Detachment Commander of Peace Prairie, Lieutenant-Colonel Kevin Rodrigues, said his men were in high spirits and remained focused in their mission.

American Ambassador to Singapore Frank Lavin said the American people were deeply grateful for Singapore's help. He added that RSAF personnel were saving lives in Louisiana and that the other Gulf Coast States and Americans would long remember this.

The RSAF’s Peace Prairie detachment has worked together with the Texas Army National Guard on other relief missions in the past, including relief operations in the aftermath of Hurricane Floyd in North Carolina in 1999 and fire-fighting and flood relief operations in Texas in 2000.

During Hurricane Katrina, the Singapore Red Cross launched a public appeal to help victims of Hurricane Katrina. It requested donations from Singaporeans to the emergency so that the fund could be used to assist displaced and homeless victims through the American Red Cross.