9/8/2005
Media Contact:
Steve Campbell, [317] 327-3622 |
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Indianapolis relief & response to Hurricane Katrina victims -- Thursday wrap-up
INDIANAPOLIS - Mayor Bart Peterson said that the City of Indianapolis continues to mobilize local resources and personnel to be of assistance to victims of Hurricane Katrina, including:
New actions
•Library resources for victims. The Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library (IMCPL) is providing courtesy library cards to all displaced persons. Extended time will be allowed on the public computers in all library locations so persons can complete FEMA applications, attempt to contact loved ones and transact other business. IMCPL also is contacting schools in our service areas to make them aware that children will be eligible for library cards and other assistance as needed. The library also is collecting donated books for apartment complexes and other facilities that are housing our new residents.
•Animal resources. Indianapolis Animal Care & Control has contacted the ASPCA and offered dog and cat food and housing for animals in the city shelter.
•Computer resources for victims. The Indianapolis-Marion County Information Service Agency delivered 10 laptops to the Red Cross, which are on loan from the Indianapolis Police Department. The Red Cross and the State Fairgrounds are setting up a series of wireless accounts for the laptops. SBC has offered the installation and use of land lines. The Red Cross will make the decision if they feel they need the service
•September 11 Commemorative "Community Fair." Helping hurricane victims will be the focus of this year’s Community Fair on Monument Circle tomorrow. This annual event, which Mayor Peterson and the United Way of Central Indiana started on September 11, 2002, invites local not-for-profit agencies to set up information tables on the Circle to register volunteers, accept donations or educate the public about their missions. Goodwill Industries of Central Indiana, the Salvation Army and Central Indiana Labor Council AFL-CIO will be on hand to accept donations for victims who have relocated to Indianapolis.
On-going actions
•600 units of housing available. Since last week, the city has been cataloging housing options for relocated victims who want to live in Indianapolis for the short-term or settle permanently.
-So far, the city has identified about 600 housing units for short- or long-term stays.
-The city has submitted this catalogue to the U.S Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD).
-The city has asked the United Way, American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis, Center Township Trustee Carl Drummer and other community, faith-based and social service agencies to lead this effort.
-The city met with the Red Cross to determine the specific housing needs of the victims.
-In addition to housing, the group is also coordinating various social services.
•Airport food & supply drive. The employees of BAA Indianapolis LLC will host another hurricane relief drive on Thursday, September 8, 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Indianapolis Maintenance Center, 2745 S. Hoffman Rd. Items may be brought to a special collection site where a truck from the Hope Crisis Response Network will be filled for a trip to the Gulf Coast region. Recommended donations include new and packaged food and supplies and clothing items for men, women and children.
•Relief flights. The city has worked with locally-based Republic Airways, the Indianapolis Airport Authority and BAA to dispatch several relief and retrieval missions to New Orleans.
-Last Friday, Republic flew thousands of pounds of donated goods by Marsh Supermarkets. The flight returned with nearly 60 passengers who were taken to the headquarters. IndyGo provided transportation from the airport and provided the Red Cross with 100 seven-day bus passes. Those who needed medical care were screened and served by Wishard Health Services. They will be or were transferred to the State Fairgrounds, which is serving as an additional shelter.
-Last Saturday, Republic flew more donated goods and brought back another 60 people from New Orleans. More on this flight needed more immediate and serious medical attention.
-The city and BAA coordinated a food drive Saturday night and at the Indianapolis Maintenance Facility at the airport. These goods and supplies were sent down to a suburb of New Orleans.
-Last Sunday, Republic dropped off medical supplies which stayed in New Orleans and medical personnel who took a bus to Baton Rouge. They were not able to bring back any passengers because FEMA told them there was not anyone that needed to leave.
•Short-term sheltering. Since last Wednesday, the city has worked with the Red Cross and Center Township Trustee Drummer on short-term housing for victims;
•Waiving airport landing fees. The airport is waiving all landing fees for aircraft using the Indianapolis International Airport for hurricane relief flights. This applies to passenger and cargo flights transporting personnel or supplies to the stricken area. In addition, the airport has made arrangements for airport visitors to make financial contributions to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund beginning on Monday, September 5.
In cooperation with the local office of the U.S. Transportation Security Administration, collection containers have been placed at the security checkpoints where passengers will be invited to put their loose pocket change. Airport parking customers will also be able to contribute change or other amounts in similar containers at the cashier booths as they exit the lots.
•Local health services. Wishard Health Services has been receiving several hurricane victims over the past several days. Relocated victims in need of medical assistance are invited to call the Wishard Health Connection at 317-655-2255, a multi-language call center that operates seven days a week, 24 hours a day. It is staffed by 17 registered nurses and 17 patient service assistants who evaluate patients over the phone and link them to the most appropriate level of care at Wishard. Wishard officials are also contacting local hospitals to make sure they are prepared for a potential influx of victims.
•"2-1-1" system. Citizens, businesses and organizations who want to donate time, money or supplies or open their homes, facilities or businesses to victims should dial "2-1-1" or 926-HELP (4357). This call center is open seven days a week, 24 hours a day. The city is working with operators at the Information Referral Network to compile a database of local volunteers, businesses, suppliers and others who have offered to help.
•Local police preparedness. IPD is taking several steps to ensure its preparedness for possible deployment to hurricane-ravaged areas and for local emergencies.
•Lobbying for federal housing assistance. City officials are working the National League of Cities (NLC) to ask for assistance for victims, such as housing certificates for those who are relocated here. This may take an act of the U.S. Congress, but would be an important fix to the issue of finding reimbursement of some sort for housing after emergency shelter.
•Indiana Task Force 1. Task Force 1, the specialized urban search and rescue team that includes local firefighters, paramedics and medical personnel headquartered in Indianapolis, arrived in Mississippi Tuesday, August 30 and returned on Sunday, September 6. The team performed searches of collapsed structures for survivors and victims.
•Local firefighters deployed. The city deployed several Indianapolis Fire Department personnel, as well as several other Marion County firefighters, to Mississippi as a part of Operation Hoosier Relief, on Saturday, September 3.
•Coordination with other mayors & cities. The city has been in constant contact with the NLC and U.S. Conference of Mayors to help coordinate local and national response.
•Coordination with the state. The city has been in daily contact with state officials to determine their plans for responding to Hurricane Katrina. Mayor Peterson also asked Gov. Mitch Daniels on Tuesday to seek a federal disaster declaration for Indiana to help reimburse local governments and organizations for relief efforts.
•Faith-based assistance. The city is meeting this week with the Church Federation of Indianapolis to bring churches together to coordinate how faith-based organizations can help victims.
•Local schools. The city has been in contact with local school corporations to make sure they are prepared for a potential influx of students.
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