Source: United Sikhs

http://www.unitedsikhs.org/PressReleases/PRSRLS-08-09-2005-00.htm

On September 8, 2005 a United Sikhs Press Release reported, "Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the Sikh Scriptures and eternal Guru of the Sikhs, was recovered yesterday from the submerged New Orleans Gurdwara (Sikh place of worship) after a rescue operation spanning 22 hours by a team of United Sikhs volunteers led by rescue experts. The Gurdwara... was under 9-feet deep water... The Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji could not be removed from the Gurdwara before mandatory evacuation orders were issued. United Sikhs requested federal and state government agencies for immediate removal of the Holy Scriptures from the submerged Gurdwara. A letter was sent to President Bush on [September 4] seeking assistance to airlift the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. But there was no response. The United Sikhs emergency relief team then sought the help of United Sikhs volunteer, Ranbir Kaur, a US Army National Guard from Bakersfield CA, to hire the rescue services of SRT (A private helicopter special response and training company of California) and launched the rescue operation... The Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji's swarup was on the Palki (palanquin) and floating on water when Hardayal Singh, a rescue team member, entered the building. 'I was amazed, looking at the Guru Sahib's sukhasan on the palki, floating on five feet of water and untouched by the flood waters,' he said."