In response to the aftermath of Hurricane Katerina there has been an outpouring of sympathy and offers of help from the NIH community. NIH's first response, as a medical and public health agency, has been to address the immediate medical needs of the affected population. We are participants in the Department of Health and Human Services Task Force to respond to these events, and approximately 250 NIH staff members are being deployed to the field; we are working with academic partners around the country, consulting and coordinating, to provide needed specialized medical information. We are also prepared to make 100 beds available in the NIH Clinical Center, as necessary for patients with special needs that the Clinical Center is uniquely suited to meet, and have activated a consult service for physicians in the affected areas. These activities continue to develop very rapidly, and you can expect to hear more about them.

One other way that NIH scientists can help is to provide research homes for our scientific colleagues and their trainees from the affected areas. Although it has proved difficult to contact people, some of you have been in touch with colleagues, and others are encouraged to try to make contact with colleagues in the affected areas who may need help. In addition, several professional societies are creating websites to register scientists who need help, and the NIH is attempting to contact grantees in the area (see the following websites for more information: http://www.nih.gov/about/director/hurricanekatrina/index.htm and https://grants.nih.gov/grants/katrina/index.htm). Your Scientific Directors will help you with logistics and financial support if you do find a colleague who could benefit from time spent at the NIH during the recovery period. Please check with your Scientific Director before you make any commitments to be sure resources are available (including space, travel funds, per deum allowances,and services and supply support) and to be sure that paperwork can be completed in a timely fashion.

Michael Gottesman
Deputy Director of Intramural Research, NIH