9/6/2005
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City of Indianapolis relief & response to Hurricane Katrina victims - Tuesday wrap-up
Citizens, organizations & businesses who want to help should 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:
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.
-On Friday, Republic flew thousands of pounds of donated goods from Marsh Supermarkets. The flight returned with nearly 60 passengers who were taken to the American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis headquarters. IndyGo provided transportation from the airport to Red Cross, and those who needed medical care were screened and served by Wishard Health Services. They will be or were transferred to the Indiana State Fairgrounds, which is serving as an additional shelter.
-On 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. Many were transported to Wishard Hospital and The Salvation Army.
-On 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.
-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.
-Another Republic flight is being explored if there are victims who need to be evacuated.
Long-term housing & services. Since last Wednesday, the city has been cataloging all the long term housing options for relocated victims who want to live in Indianapolis for the short-term or settle permanently.
-The city submitted a preliminary list to the federal government today.
-The city has asked the United Way of Central Indiana, the Red Cross, Center Township Trustee Carl Drummer and other local community, faith-based and social service agencies to lead this effort.
-Met with more than 75 organizations earlier today to begin implementing the effort.
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 Indianapolis Airport Authority is waiving all landing fees for aircraft using the Indianapolis International Airport for hurricane relief flights. This will apply to passenger and cargo flights transporting personnel or supplies to the stricken area. The operator of the flight will need to notify the airports operations office for the waiver. 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 will be 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." 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. Public Safety Director Robert Turner and Indianapolis Police Chief Michael Spears have ordered the Indianapolis Police Department to take several steps to ensure its preparedness for possible deployment to hurricane-ravaged areas and for local emergencies, including:
-Reviewing and updating all emergency response protocol;
-Conducting an inventory of all emergency supplies and equipment and readiness of any areas in need of attention;
-Inspecting of personnel, vehicles, and equipment to help ensure all personnel are available for recall to uniform duty if needed;
-Developing a plan to shelter family members of public safety personnel.
Lobbying for public housing certificates. City officials are working the National League of Cities (NLC) to ask the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development to quickly transfer housing certificates to anyone who is relocated here and needs quick access to vouchers. This could take an act of the U.S. Congress, but would be an important fix to the issue of finding reimbursement or funding of some sort for housing after emergency shelter. Mayor Peterson is second vice president of NLC.
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 last 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 coordinating local and national response to the hurricane.
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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