Preparing for Disasters, Call 2-1-1

Sep 10, 2007 2:15 PM

Fires ... floods ... hurricanes ... Sometimes the best way to survive a disaster – natural or otherwise – is to get out of its way.

But evacuation plans shouldn't be spur-of-the-moment, says Janie Harris, Texas Cooperative Extension housing and environment specialist. Routes, meeting places and contacts should all be mapped out ahead of time and shared with everyone in the family.
But what if you don't have a vehicle or have some physical or medical condition that limits your ability to take care of yourself?

Call 2-1-1, says Harris, who also is co-chair of Texas Extension's emergency management steering committee.

"2-1-1" was designated by the Federal Communications Commission to provide health and human services information and referral, says Deborah Ballard, development specialist with 2-1-1 Texas Information and Referral Network. It is also useful during emergency situations.

Not all states have 2-1-1 services, but Texas has offered it since 2004, Ballard said. According to its Web site, 2-1-1 Texas "is a free, easy-to-remember phone number connecting callers with health and human services in their community."

This service is available at all times – not just in emergencies – to provide information on such community resources as rent and utility assistance, food, emergency shelters, employment help, medical and mental health services, transportation and suicide intervention counseling, the Web site information continued. Information on affordable child care, caring for an aging relative and disaster recovery is also provided.

The number can also be a valuable source of information when individuals or families are making plans for dealing with emergency situations, Harris said.

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita two years ago emphasized how vital it is to have evacuation plans in place. But getting out of the way of a storm isn't always as easy as it sounds, she said. Some people can't leave on their own.

Anyone who will require assistance if an evacuation is necessary can register with 2-1-1 ahead of time, Harris says. That includes anyone who will need transportation assistance, help with routine activities, or who has disabilities such as blindness, hearing impairment, amputation or mental retardation. Those who are under daily nursing care or are monitored by equipment will also require assistance in evacuations, as will children younger than 18 who have no adult supervision.

The service is handled through 23 information centers throughout the state, Harris said. When someone registers, the technician who answers the phone asks questions such as name, address and phone number, and an emergency contact's name, relationship and phone number. The technician also asks if any pets or service animals will also need to be evacuated and if the person registering has any special medical needs.

This information is fed into a database maintained by an agency at the University of Texas and from there is available to local emergency management officials and agencies which will be coordinating evacuation plans, Ballard said.

These agencies vary from county to county, Harris said, and might include the American Red Cross or the United Way.

"You need to do this before a disaster occurs to give (officials) time to coordinate with the local evacuation (plans)," Harris said. "When you have a situation, it's too late."

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