It is the mission of the Helicopter Emergency Lifeline Project to provide a helicopter to enhance situational awareness and interagency coordination in a disaster. To aid those agencies which would normally not have such a resource available and to eliminate the gap in response time created when requesting Federal or State helicopters.  During times of natural or man-made disasters the helicopter will be available to all agencies to aid and assist based on the level of greatest need. The helicopter will be available to any recognized Emergency or Humanitarian agency within an operational area East of the Rocky Mountains at no cost through the donations of the sponsors of the project. By making available such a helicopter, dedicated in large part to being the eyes and ears of the first responders and Emergency Management officials, we hope to help prevent a repeat of the "lack of situational awareness" that took place during hurricane Katrina. Our desire is to help ensure that the victims of future disasters never feel forgotten.