In October 2005 food stamp participation rose to 27,575,192 people, 39,983 more than in September and 1,809,387 more than in August, largely due to the nutrition relief needed by victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Six states with large numbers of those affected by the hurricanes - Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, and Arkansas - accounted for nearly 1.57 million of the increase since August, with more than 240,000 of the growth coming in other states.