Hurricane Katrina struck the east coast of the United States on August 29th, 2005, hitting landfall at Bay St Louis, Mississippi, causing severe damage to Pass Christian, MS (north side of St Louis Bay), Bay St Louis, and Waveland (southern border of Bay St Louis). New Orleans, Louisiana, although not struck directly by Hurricane Katrina, suffered severe damage and loss of life due to storm surge that resulted in the breach of earthen dams (levees) and subsequent flooding in a highly populated area.
Gabriella Van Breda, director of World Impact Network, sent a team of three volunteers (including Fred Breedlove) to work at a non-denominational Christian Mission in Bay St Louis in October 2005 to provide disaster relief to hurricane victims. The team worked with Pastor Rick Walth (Doon, Iowa) and other volunteers to "gut" houses flooded by 40' waves, cleanup of debris, minister to hurricane survivors with food, cleanup supplies, clothing and emotional/spiritual support.
Fred made a total of three mission trips to Bay St Louis (October 2005, November 2005, & April 2006). The tasks accomplished during these Missions of Hope were similar and difficult both physically and emotionally, but the rewards of seeing people helped during a very difficult time made it all worthwhile. The mission trips to Mississippi for Hurricane Katrina and earlier to Sri Lanka for the tsunami of 2004 had such an impact on Fred that he went through a one-year training program with the Health Care Chaplain's Ministry Association (HCMA) to become a board certified Chaplain's Assistant. The skills Fred learned through the HCMA training has been very useful in ministering to people during disasters.