By: Gene C. Gerard

The destruction that Hurricane Katrina has caused in the Gulf Coast may well turn out to the worst national disaster in our nation’s history. After surveying the damaged areas from the air, President Bush noted, “It’s totally wiped out.” And Peter Teahen, spokesman for the American Red Cross, acknowledged, “We are looking now at a disaster above any magnitude that we’ve seen in the United States.” Early estimates of the damage are at $25 billion.

Although destruction occurred throughout the Gulf Coast, Louisiana and Mississippi were hit the hardest. Ray Nagin, the mayor of New Orleans, advised that in his city the death toll is “…minimum hundreds, most likely, thousands.” An estimated 80 percent of New Orleans is under water. Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco has called for the total evacuation of the city, affecting nearly 485,000 residents. Both municipal airports in New Orleans are under water. There appear to be numerous natural gas leaks and fires throughout the city.

An estimated 400,000 Louisiana residents are without power. In southeastern Louisiana, half of Plaquemines Parish is covered by the Mississippi river. St. Bernard Parish, near New Orleans, it totally submerged in water. In Jefferson Parish, 20 blocks in one neighborhood are under water. The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, the longest bridge in the world spanning a body of water, has been broken into pieces.

In Mississippi, over 100 people are known to have died in Biloxi and Gulfport. Almost one million residents are without power. In Gulfport, virtually all of the waterfront homes and businesses have been destroyed. The governor of Mississippi, Haley Barbour, after touring part of his state told reporters, “It looks like Hiroshima.” The entire town of South Diamondhead has been swept away.

Both Mississippi and Louisiana are in desperate need of manpower for the rescue, evacuation, and recovery efforts. In the past, this has typically come from National Guard units. However, as a result of the ongoing war in Iraq, help from the troops is limited. More than one-third of Louisiana’s National Guard soldiers are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Mississippi has 40 percent of its National Guard troops in the Middle East.

As a result of these shortages the governors of both states have already asked for National Guard troops, especially military police and engineers, to be sent from neighboring states. And it’s not just soldiers who are needed. Because much of the National Guard’s equipment has been shipped to Iraq, both Mississippi and Louisiana have requested equipment from other states’ National Guard units. Helicopters, trucks that can navigate the flood waters, and machinery to move heavy items are in short supply.

The governors of Alabama, Florida, Texas and Arkansas are sending some of their National Guard troops. The Coast Guard has called up 500 reservists owing to the shortage. Lt. Gene Maestas, a spokesman for the Coast Guard admitted, “The biggest challenge is getting enough resources…to the areas for the rescue work we have to do.”

National Guard personnel are desperately needed to contain the looting and general lawlessness that is rampant in Louisiana. Governor Blanco has requested help from the federal government with the rescue and evacuation efforts, because she acknowledged that her state did not have enough National Guard troops to undertake those activities and police the state. In New Orleans, looters rammed a pharmacy with a forklift. Many liquor stores have been broken into and their stocks carried off.

A Wal-Mart was looted and every pistol and rifle in its gun department taken. Terry Ebbert, New Orleans’ Director of Homeland Security warned, “These are not individuals looting. These are large groups of armed individuals.” Mr. Ebbert cautioned that armed gangs are moving freely about the city. Several police officers stranded on the roof of a building were shot at. Another police officer was shot in the head by a looter. Tulane University Medical Center was robbed of its medical equipment and drugs.

Hurricane Katrina will likely be our nation’s worst national disaster. And help is desperately needed now. Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff, who is leading the federal government’s activities in the Gulf, acknowledged with regard to New Orleans, “We’re racing the clock in terms of possible injury. We’re racing the clock in terms of illness, and we’re racing the clock to get them food and water.” If we didn’t have so many National Guard troops stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan we could be doing more, and doing it quicker. We need them to come home.

Gene C. Gerard teaches American history at a small college in suburban Dallas. He is a contributing author to the forthcoming book "Americans at War," to be published by Greenwood Press.