A hearing, titled “Hurricane Katrina: Urban Search and Rescue in a Catastrophe,” was held to explore the search and rescue operations in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. Witnesses testified about breakdowns in the systems and structures in place that were intended to assist in search-and-rescue operations. Mr. Lokey testified that the Federal Emergency Management Agency denied a request from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries for 300 rubber rafts the day prior to the hurricane.