20 Years of Disaster Response: IFAW's Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina

Hurricane Katrina, which devastated the Gulf Coast in 2005, marked a pivotal moment for the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) as it launched its formal Disaster Response program. Since then, the organization has responded to over 600 disasters worldwide, rescuing and caring for more than 1.2 million animals. From emergency response to global leadership, IFAW has evolved into a force that helps communities prepare for disasters before they happen and build resilience to their impacts.

Key Takeaways:

• IFAW's Disaster Response program was formally established in 2005 after responding to Hurricane Katrina, which marked a significant milestone for the organization.
• Since its inception, IFAW has responded to over 600 disasters worldwide, rescuing and caring for more than 1.2 million animals.
• IFAW's work today focuses not only on emergency response but also on helping communities prepare for disasters before they happen and building resilience to their impacts.
• The organization has trained thousands of responders across every continent except Antarctica and established a model for animal-inclusive disaster planning.
• IFAW's skills and dedication have enabled the organization to respond to various types of disasters, including hurricanes, wildfires, floods, droughts, earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, and even war zones.
• The organization has helped animals and people impacted by various crises, including wildfires in Australia, Greece, and North America, and conflict in Ukraine, Syria, and DRC.
• IFAW invests in building local capacity and ensuring communities have the training and resources they need long before disaster strikes.
• The organization's proactive approach, turning last year's lessons into this year's resilience, is at the heart of its work.
• IFAW is scaling its efforts to address the changing climate and invests in community resilience, advocacy, and local leadership.
• The organization's initiatives, such as the Academy of Rescue & Conservation (ARC), offer online disaster response training modules and host in-person workshops worldwide.

Statistics:

• Over 600 disasters worldwide have been responded to by IFAW.
• More than 1.2 million animals have been rescued and cared for by IFAW.
• IFAW has trained thousands of responders across every continent except Antarctica.
• The organization has established a model for animal-inclusive disaster planning.
• IFAW has responded to various types of disasters, including hurricanes, wildfires, floods, droughts, earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, and even war zones.
• The organization has helped animals and people impacted by various crises, including wildfires in Australia, Greece, and North America, and conflict in Ukraine, Syria, and DRC.

Sources:

• International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) news release, 2025.
• IFAW's website and reports on disaster response efforts.