9/2/2005
Media Contact:
Steve Campbell, [317] 327-3622 |
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City of Indianapolis relief & response to Hurricane Katrina victims
Citizens, organizations & businesses who want to help to call 2-1-1
INDIANAPOLIS - Mayor Bart Peterson said that the City of Indianapolis has been mobilizing local resources and personnel to be of assistance to victims of Hurricane Katrina, including:
Mobilize "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." This call center is open seven days a week, 24 hours a day. The city will be working with operators at the Information Referral Network to compile a database of local volunteers, businesses, suppliers and others who have offered to help;
Indianapolis Police Chief Michael Spears electronically contacted the New Orleans Police Department to offer assistance. IPD has not yet heard back;
Worked with Republic Airways and Marsh Supermarkets to fly supplies to New Orleans and bring back victims for temporary or permanent housing;
Indiana 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. Task Force 1 was deployed to "Ground Zero" within hours of the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York. The team will be working with their counterparts to perform searches of collapsed structures for survivors and victims;
Deploying seven Indianapolis Fire Department personnel, as well as several other Marion County firefighters, to Mississippi as a part of Operation Hoosier Relief. Operation Hoosier Relief is Indianas largest ever humanitarian effort outside its borders;
Participated in conference call with U.S. Conference of Mayors, Federal Emergency Management Administration and the White House;
Coordinating local and national response with the National League of Cities. Mayor Peterson is second vice president of NLC;
Working with American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis (317-684-1441) and Center Township Trustee Carl Drummer to provide shelter space for victims;
Working with the American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis and United Way of Central Indiana on short- and long-term relocation and housing plans for victims;
Wishard Health Service is inviting victims needing assistance 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;
Contacting local hospitals to make sure they are prepared for a potential influx of victims;
Contacting 11 local school corporations to make sure they are prepared for a potential influx of students.
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