Angel Flight America reunites hundreds of Hurricane Katrina victims with their families      

[SEPT. 10, 2005]  ADDISON, Texas -- Angel Flight America, a national organization dedicated to serving people in situations of compelling need by arranging free air transportation through volunteer general aviation pilots, continues to work around the clock assisting Hurricane Katrina victims.

Angel Flight is on the front line every day of the year helping children and adults in need access lifesaving medical care. The national network also arranges flights of compassion and disaster response. Currently, their requests have skyrocketed, and each is an amazing story. Generous volunteer pilots are donating their time, airplanes and fuel from all corners of the nation to assist those affected by the devastating floods from Hurricane Katrina.

As one Angel Flight leader, Butch Smith of Plano, Texas, said, "We're flying hundreds of missions, helping hundreds and hundreds of people, covering thousands of miles."

At the request of numerous state and local agencies, shelters run by the American Red Cross, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency
-- even though Angel Flight America receives no federal funding -- the Angel Flight organization has been moving high-risk people to safer locations and flying emergency workers, agency staff, volunteers and supplies into flood-ravaged areas. During the past week at least 500 missions have been flown, and, as more and more needs for Angel Flight's unique service are identified, that number is growing at an exponential rate.

Angel Flight's executive director, Ken Rusnak, said: "The relationships we established in the aftermath of 9/11 with other disaster response organizations through the creation of the Homeland Security Emergency Air Transportation System, funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service, are helping us all respond as quickly and safely as possible. Communication and cooperation are essential tools in a situation like this."

"Reuniting families and relocating evacuees is our priority now, as response efforts shift from the initial rescue efforts," said Angel Flight representative Sarah Riehm of Addison, Texas. "The situation is just overwhelming, so we've had to prioritize those requests that best fit our mission and resources."

Mission coordination teams working around the clock in several locations throughout the country are focusing their professional efforts, limited funds and volunteer pilot resources on requests to:

• Reunite families separated during the evacuation.
• Relocate families out of shelters in cases of confirmed safe housing elsewhere.

Angel Flight staff and coordination volunteers have been on the ground in Baton Rouge, La., spreading the word through shelters that transportation is available, while teams in other areas of the country are working with regional and local agencies and hospitals. Children, along with men and women displaced by the storm, are being reunited with their parents and other family members.

Angel Flight passengers are never charged for the flights arranged by the organization and provided by generous volunteer pilots. Angel Flight America is the nation's largest charitable aviation network, flying approximately 17,000 missions over the last year. Angel Flight exists solely through donations from individuals, companies, organizations and foundations that cover the many expenses associated with matching passengers and charitable aviation resources.

"We are in desperate need of donations to literally give a 'lift' to stranded Americans," said Edward R. Boyer, chairman of Angel Flight. "We are estimating that the total cost of Angel Flight relief missions will be at least $2 million."

To donate and to volunteer, visit www.angelflightamerica.org or call Angel Flight's hurricane response headquarters at 1 [phone].

Angel Flight America fact sheet

• Angel Flight America is the largest charitable air transportation organization in the world. And, with more than 6,000 volunteer general aviation pilots, Angel Flight America is the largest volunteer pilot organization in the nation.
• Angel Flight America represents over 90 percent of all charitable aviation nonemergency flights flown in all 50 states of the U.S.
• Angel Flight America regional mission coordination teams handle more than 20,000 mission requests annually.
• In 2004, Angel Flight arranged flights for more than 25,000 passengers on nearly 17,000 missions.
• One-third of Angel Flight missions are for children and two-thirds for adults and senior citizens with hundreds of different illnesses, challenges and personal crises.
• Each dollar donated generates $3-$4 worth of flight services delivered to people in need who live in rural and urban communities across the U.S.
• Volunteer pilots who fly, and often own, general aviation airplanes "provide" the transportation by donating their time, talent, airplane, fuel and operating expenses.
• Angel Flight America exists solely on donations from individuals, corporations, organizations and foundations. No federal funding is received by Angel Flight.
• Angel Flight America is a 501(c)(3), tax-exempt charitable organization.
• Cash donations allow Angel Flight to support volunteer pilots and serve people in need.
• Disaster response -- After 9/11, Angel Flight pilots were called upon to transport American Red Cross personnel, bootees for the rescue dogs, and many other people and supplies.

In the midst of response to Hurricane Katrina, hundreds of missions are being flown through Angel Flight to reunite families separated during the evacuation of flood-ravaged areas and to relocate families out of shelters to safe housing elsewhere.

For more information, visit www.angelflightamerica.org.

[Angel Flight America news release]