Airports Nationwide Show Solidarity in Aftermath of Hurricane
Katrina
Roy Williams, Director of Aviation for Louis Armstrong New
Orleans International Airport, Monday spoke at the opening session
of the 14th Annual Airports Council International - North America
(ACI-NA) Conference and Exhibition and expressed his gratitude for
the support airports nationwide have offered in the aftermath of
Hurricane Katrina. Williams provided a first-hand account of
Hurricane Katrina's impacts on the greater New Orleans region and
described the relief and recovery efforts, many of which were
staged at his airport.
"Hurricane Katrina has been a monumental crisis with a large
portion of the recovery action taking place at the airport,
including the rescue and healing effort. We are tremendously
grateful for the support of our airport colleagues who have helped
us to get back up and running, setting the stage for recovery
efforts and full operations," Williams said.
Joining Williams in a
press briefing following the opening session included Patrick
Graham, Executive Director of Savannah/Hilton Head International
Airport; Frank Miller, Director of Pensacola Regional Airport; and
Rick Vacar, Director of Aviation for the Houston Airport System,
whose airports have played important roles in coordinating relief
efforts among the airport community. More than 20 airports have
sent materials, personnel, vehicles and equipment to both Louis
Armstrong New Orleans International Airport and Gulfport-Biloxi
International Airport. Their efforts were made possible through the
ACI-NA Hurricane Action Group and the Southeast Airports Disaster
Operations Group (SEADOG), programs formed after the 2004 hurricane
season to provide assistance to airports in times of crisis.
"The Southeastern airports learned quite a few lessons that were
helpful from last year's Hurricane Ivan and those lessons were
vital in organizing and launching SEADOG," Graham said. "After this
unprecedented event, we will continue our work to help
airports."
ACI-NA President Greg Principato also expressed gratitude
towards the generosity of airport members saying as long airports
continue to support and look after one another, the aviation
industry will remain strong.
"The past few weeks have been a testament to the strength and
unity of the aviation community. With mass amounts of volunteers
arranging for transport of personnel and basic supplies, along with
equipment and funds, the airport community has come together and
proven to be a united front," said Principato.
ACI-NA and the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE)
recently established the AAAE/ACI-NA Katrina Airport Employee
Relief Fund to aid employees of the governing bodies that operate
airports in the region impacted by Katrina. 100 percent of the
funds collected by the associations from airport operators,
individual AAAE/ACI-NA members and corporate/associate members will
be designated for distribution by the airports to employees for the
purposes of humanitarian relief, such as assistance with temporary
housing, food, clothing, and transportation.