Information for people with disabilities and their families who have
been affected by Hurricane Katrina.

GOVERNOR’S OFFICE RESPONSE OPERATIONS INFORMATION / KEY CONTACTS LIST

RESPONDING TO QUESTIONS

Animal Rescue Effort: Please refer any calls to 888.773.6489 toll-free
225.925.3980 local
www.vetmed.lsu.edu

Childcare Information: For information about available childcare centers or displayed childcare workers. Please call locally at 225-926-8005 local or toll-free at 1-888-926-8005

Coast Guard Search & Rescue: 1-800-323-7233

Donations:
Katrina Donations Help Line & Information Center:
1-866-334-8305 (goods & services)
225- 342-7000 (financial donations)

Donate to Schools: Money or materials to schools affected by Hurricane Katrina, please e-mail Mary Helen McCoy at mary.mccoy@la.gov

Red Cross Donations: 1-800-435-7669 (1-800-HELP NOW)

Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation:
877-HELP-LA-1 (877-435-7521) or visit www.louisiana.gov
Mail Donations to:
Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation, Inc.
Fed. Tax ID No. 20-3399944
c/o Division of Administration
P.O. Box 94095
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9095

Faith-based Organizations for Donations:
Operation Blessing 1-800-436-6348
America's Second Harvest 1-800-344-8070
Adventist Community Services 1-800-381-7171
Catholic Charities, USA 703-549-1390
Christian Reformed World Relief Committee 1-800-848-5818
Church World Service 1-800-297-1516
Lutheran Disaster Response 800-638-3522
Mennonite Disaster Service 717-859-2210
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance 800-872-3283
United Methodist Committee on Relief 1-800-554-8583

Legal Assistance: Victims of Hurricane Katrina needing legal assistance may call the FEMA Legal Assistance Hotline at 1-800-310-7029

Mail Service: 1-800-ASK-USPS or (800) 275-8777, also visit www.usps.com

Prisoners: All prisoners in the greater NO area evacuated safe and sound. There will be no hotline through Corrections for additional information. At this point the inmates have been spread throughout the state and will be returned when it is safe to do so.

Unemployment Insurance and Disaster Unemployment Assistance Claims: Go to the nearest Department of Labor One Stop or Job Center to file claims or call 1-866-310-1585 or visit www.LAWORKS.net

Volunteers:
General Volunteers:
Call 211 for anyone wanting to volunteer
From cell phones *211
Out of State 1-800-749-COPE

OEP Hotline number for volunteers and donors at 1-866-334-8305

Medical Volunteers: Medical Personnel willing and able to offer their services to the citizens and evacuees of America's Gulf coast region go to www.helpthemnow.net


IMPORTANT NUMBERS

Abandoned Kids in Shelters: 1-800-THE-LOST

Airport Flight Info:
Metro Airport Flight Info 225-355-0333
New Orleans Flight Info 504-464-0831

American Cancer Society: If you have an evacuee who is a cancer patient and needs help, feel free to contact the American Cancer Society. You may also refer patients to 1-800-ACS-2345 or www.cancer.org

Attorney General’s Office: Price Gouging Number 1-800-351-4889 (please let constituent know that they will need to leave a message)

Banking and Financial Info (Office of Financial Institutions): 1-866-783-5530

Board of Regents: The Board of Regents has developed a website providing information for students affected by the hurricane www.regents.state.la.us. Their phone # is 1-866-415-2269.

Department of Civil Service: Department of State Civil Service has established a toll-free hotline to help the 27,000 plus state employees displaced by Hurricane Katrina to contact their agencies. Displaced state employees may call the hotline at 1-866-783-5462 from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Department of Economic Development: LED has established katrinabizhelp@la.gov as the designated repository for any questions from businesses.

Department of Health and Hospitals: 225-342-9500
Link to requested information: www.dhh.state.la.us
Link to DHH Emergency News Site: http://www.dhhemergencynews.com

Department of Health and Human Services: Dept. Health & Human Services today announced the availability of a toll-free hotline for people in crisis in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. By dialing 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255), callers will be connected to a network of local crisis centers across the country that are committed to crisis counseling. Callers to the hotline will receive counseling from trained staff at the closest certified crisis center in the network.

Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): If you lived in HUD public housing including Section 8 housing you can call the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) TOLL-FREE NUMBER (1-800-955-2232) for assistance in relocating.

Department of Insurance – The Department of Insurance’s website has a list of the phone numbers of all of the major insurance companies covering Louisiana. The website is www.ldi.state.la.us. If you have a problem with your claim, or can’t reach your company or agent you can also call them at 1-800-259-5300 or reach them by e-mail at public@ldi.state.la.us.

Department of Labor: Important Numbers for Hurricane Victims - Victims of Hurricane Katrina can call the following Louisiana Department of Labor toll-free numbers to file for Unemployment Insurance, Disaster Unemployment Assistance or Workers’ Compensation benefits:

Unemployment Insurance/Disaster Unemployment Assistance:
1-800-818-7811

UI/DUA: For those who need to file a “Change of Address”:
(225) 342-2886, (225) 342-9602, (225) 342-2818

Workers’ Compensation Claims and Benefits:
1-800-201-2494, 1-800-201-3457, (225) 342-7561

Department of Motor Vehicles: Motor Vehicles information for replacement driver's license/identification cards evacuees inside LA should call (225) 925-4610 or 925-3993.
Evacuees located outside of LA should call (225) 925-4195 or 1-877-DMV-LINE (1-877-368-5463.
For more information please visit www.dps.state.la.us/omv/katrinadups.html.

Developmental Disabilities Council: 225-342-7700, 1-800-922-DIAL (3425), 1-800-450-8108
A website has been set up with resource information (general & disability info) at www.katrina-la.net/ The site also has a way to submit online requests for help or offers of assistance.

FEMA: 1-800-621-3362
www.fema.gov

FEMA Helpline: For those who have already applied for assistance and have questions regarding their application please call 1-800-525-0321 (For the hearing impaired - 1-800-660-8005)

FEMA Map Service Center: Provides answers to all of your flooding and mapping questions please call 1-800-358-9616 or go online at http://msc.fema.gov

FEMA On-line Agency Telephone Directory: www.fema.gov/staff/

Food Banks: These numbers are for individuals as well as shelters.
Baker Food Bank (225) 774-2140
New Iberia Food Warehouse (337) 373-2164
Baton Rouge Food Bank (225)359-9940
Alexandria Food Bank (318) 445-2773
2nd Harvest Alexandria (318) 443-2510

Food Stamps Louisiana: Emergency Food Stamp Number 1-888-LA-HELP-U or visit www.dss.state.la.us

Retailers who have problems with food stamps: Contact Mike Morris 225-342-3916

Food Stamps Texas: Hurricane evacuees wanting accurate information about food stamps and other resources can call 2-1-1 or visit www.hhs.state.tx.us/hurricane.shtml

Higher Education Information: Board of Regents College Information Hotline at 1-866-415-2269

Hotel Information: (for availability & reservations) 1-800-994-8626

Information on Katrina: 225-346-8255

LA Office of Family Support: (OFS) is offering a phone number 1 (888) LAHELPU or 1 (888) 524-3578 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., information can be obtained on the following programs: Food Stamp Benefits, including Disaster Food Stamp Benefits, Medicaid or WIC, Mental Health Counseling, Addictive Disorders, Developmental Disorders, Social Security Benefits or Social Security Disability Benefits, Child Support, Foster Care Program, DHH Optional State Supplement Checks, Louisiana Rehabilitation Services, Unemployment Benefits and Disaster Unemployment Benefits

LA Hospital Association: The LHA is tracking patients who were transferred (evacuated) from hospitals in New Orleans and surrounding areas. People searching for a patient who was in a hospital before the evacuation can visit www.lhaonline.org to fill out a Patient Tracking Form. The LHA will contact the person who file the online report when the patient is located.

Displaced employees and healthcare workers from hospitals can visit www.lhaonline.org for information about their hospital and can enter their current location into a database. The general public can search this database for a healthcare worker or hospital employee displaced by the hurricane.
All of these services are online. Please only call the LHA at 225-928-0026 if you do not have Internet access.

Patients who the state evacuated: 1-866-GET-INFO (Red Cross Hot Line) Although it may take some time, individuals can call
LA Pharmacy Board: 1-866-334-9587

LA Disaster Recovery Foundation: 1-877-HELPLA1 (1-877-435-7521)

LA State Police: 1-800-469-4828

National Guard: Persons calling to locate their family members that are in the National Guard or their family members can call the National Guard Bureau Family Program at: 1-888-777-7731

National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD): www.nvoad.org/

Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities: OCDD has now established a toll free number that can be accessed from 7 am to 7pm 7 days a week. It is a Nationwide Toll Free Number so that those out of state can call in as well. The toll free number is 1-866-783-5553

Office of Community of Services: OCS is now identifying families who have displaced and separated, in partnership with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Reunification efforts are underway via a toll-free number (800 THE LOST) and a website www.missingkids.com. OCS staff, and representatives form NCMEC, are also visiting shelters to connect families.

Office of Emergency Preparedness: (OEP) 225-925-7500 www.ohsep.louisiana.gov
OEP Hotline number for volunteers and donors at 1-866-334-8305

Local OEP Numbers for information on damaged areas:
ASCENSION PARISH OEP: 225-621-8360
EBR PARISH OEP: 225-389-2100
LAFOURCHE PARISH OEP: 985-537-7603
LIVINGSTON PARISH OEP: 225-686-3066
ST. BERNARD PARISH OEP: 504-278-4267
ST. CHARLES PARISH OEP: 985-783-5050
ST. JOHN PARISH OEP: 985-652-2222
TANGIPAHOA PARISH OEP: 985-748-3211
TERREBONNE PARISH OEP: 985-873-6357

Office of Group Benefits Health Insurance: 1-800-272-8451

Office of Mental Health: If you are a displaced resident of Louisiana and are in need of mental health medication or services please call 225-922-2700 or 225-925-1906

Office of Youth Development: For youth information on youth who have been displaced from parishes affected by Hurricane Katrina please call 225-287-7988; 225-287-7955 or 225-287-7900 between the hours of 7:30 am and 4:30 pm. After hours call 225-287-7953 and leave a message with all pertinent information. The call will be returned as soon as possible. Bridge City staff trying to contact John Anderson or Michael Gaines please call 225-778-9000. The website for OYD is www.oyd.louisiana.gov

Red Cross: Website for individuals to be able to post missing persons and for evacuees to post where they are http://www.redcross.org/pressrelease/0,1077,0_314_4521,00.html
1-800- GET- INFO (1-800-438- 4636)
1-800- HELP- NOW (1-800-4357-669)
1-877-LOVED1S (1-877- 568-3317)
225-293-1889
225-295-0104
Spanish 1-800-257-7575

Road Closure Hotline: 1-800-469-4828 or 225-379-1232

Road Emergencies: 1-800-469-4828 or *LSP (any cell phone)
Salvation Army: 1-800-725-2769 (1-800-SAL-ARMY) or www.salvationarmy.org

School Info: Department of Education: 1-877 453-2721

East Baton Rouge Parish hotline for parents to see if their child has been placed in a school. The hotline will be available on Tuesday, September 6 from 8:00 Am - 4:30 PM. Parents can call 225-226-3762.

Public Schools Employees Information Hotline- 1-(877) 771-5800
(Orleans Parish School System)

Social Security: 1-800-772-1213
The Social Security Administration is doing everything it can to ensure that monthly payments get to beneficiaries affected by Hurricane Katrina. For paper checks The United States Postal Service (USPS) has suspended mail service in some areas damaged by Hurricane Katrina. USPS is establishing temporary mail delivery stations so you can pick up your Social Security check. To help prevent identity fraud, USPS will ask you for a photo ID.

If you are not able to go to a temporary mail delivery station, you can go to any open Social Security office and request an immediate payment.
If you receive your Social Security payment by direct deposit, your Social Security payment is scheduled to be deposited to your account as usual. However, if you experience any difficulty getting your payment, you can go to any open Social Security office and request an immediate payment.

Special Needs Shelter Information:
Alexandria 800-841-5778
Baton Rouge 800-349-1372
Lafayette 800-901-3210
Slidell/Hammond 866-280-7724
Houma/Thibodaux 800-228-9409
Shreveport 800-841-5776
Monroe 866-280-7287

State Offices: 1-800-360-9660 or 225-342-0498

State Police: Emergency Numbers: 225-922-0325 225-922-0332
225-922-0333 225-922-0334

United Way: Capital Area United Way - United Way Katrina Command Center
(Information and support for Shelters, Agencies, Organizations and large scale material donations) please call 225-382-3386 or 225-923-2114 or toll-free 1-877-923-2114

Vendors: In an effort to manage these solicitations, DEQ is asking that all vendors who want their environmental cleanup products considered be referred to Percy Harris at (225) 219-3474, fax (225) 3474, email percy.harris@la.gov.

Vital Records – Vital Records are issuing copies of birth records at no charge to those individuals devastated by Hurricane Katrina. They will work with each person to ensure that they have what is needed to obtain a driver's license and/or identification card when our department cannot determine identity thru photo retrieve. Please call 225-763-5748.

WIC: Women, Infants and Children [WIC] nutrition program recipients to find out how to obtain WIC items at their current locations. Call 1-888-LA-HELP-U for this information.


Websites:
Best Friends Animal Society bestfriends.org

Craigs List Websites www.craigslist.org/about/help/katrina_aid.html
http://batonrouge.craigslist.org/about/help/katrina_cl.html
http://neworleans.craigslist.org/about/help/katrina_cl.html

Dept. of Health & Hospitals www.dhhemergencynews.com

Dept. of Insurance www.ldi.state.la.us

Dept. of Labor www.LAWORKS.net

Jefferson Parish Hurricane Katrina Emergency Site www.jeffparish.net/?DocID=1531

Hurricane Housing http://hurricanehousing.org

Hurricane Katrina Relief Portal www.reliefportal.com

Katrina Biz Help katrinabizhelp@la.gov

Locate Abandoned Kids www.missingkids.com

Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation www.katrina.louisiana.gov/donate.htm

Louisiana’s Hurricane Katrina Website http://katrina.louisiana.gov/ This site provides links to resources in the state and news about the state’s efforts to assist residents affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions www.ofi.state.la.us/Hurricane%20Katrina%20Info This site provides the contact information and current status of all banks in Louisiana as well as area banks that have agreements to cash checks for banks in the affected area.

Louisiana Hospital Association www.lhaonline.org

LA Nursing Home Association www.lnha.org

Med-Solutions www.freemedsandsolutions.com

Mississippi Governor’s Site www.mississippi.gov/index.jsp

National Early Childhood TA Center http://www.nectac.org/announce/katrina.asp
Operation Share Your Home www.shareyourhome.org can only help people find homes

Patients find their doctors www.mdtechnologies.com/community/community.html website helps evacuated patients find their doctors

Red Cross – search for missing persons www.katrinasafe.com
Domestic Violence Hurricane Relief Website www.lcadvhrf.org

GNO, Inc. is working with local and area leaders to assess, facilitate and respond in rebuilding New Orleans and the regional economy. This site has been set up to allow Employers and Employees of New Orleans area organizations to get in contact with each other. www.findyourneworleansemployer.com

Austin 6 in Baton Rouge - website will go live on Wed., Sept. 8th www.KatrinaAssist.org.
The site a SINGLE Internet portal for all relief services. Listed by Parish/County, then by Type of Service (Shelter, Goverment Aid, Food/Clothing, Jobs, Schools, etc.), disaster victims will instanly see all the service by area and type they have requested. Each listing will contain a web link to listed website, a phone number to call, and a brief description of the services offered (and it can be printed out).

Work Force Commission:

Texas Workforce Commission: Louisiana workers who have lost their jobs due to Hurricane Katrina may apply for DUA by calling 1-800-818-7811. TWC has established a central toll-free number, 1-800-695-6879, to take calls from employers wishing to hire displaced Louisiana workers.


GOVERNOR’S OFFICE ASSISTANCE

Governor’s Office Contact Information:
Post Office Box 94004
Baton Rouge, LA 70804
PH: 225-342-7015
FAX: 225-342-7099

Call Center Coordination Contact:
Phyllis Mayo at mayop@gov.state.la.us

Contacts & Information List Contact:
Melissa Champion at Email: championm@gov.state.la.us or 225-342-3327