In August 2005, President Bush's most considerable challenge was to deal with the natural disaster of Hurricane Katrina.
On August 29, 2005, a hurricane named Katrina struck Louisiana and the Gulf coast. President Bush placed the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on high alert. Relief supplies were distributed while the military prepared for the emergency. The federal efforts were meant to help state and local officials in their relief efforts. President Bush further signed an emergency declaration allowing Louisiana to use federal resources to pay for the states disaster response preparations.