World

FEMA launches database for Gustav's missing

by Yuliya Talmazan | September 1, 2008 at 08:49 am

282 views | 5 Recommendations | 1 comment

To deal with the number of missing people that may result from Gustav’s landfall, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has created a new locator system that allows displaced people submit their location information online for their family and friends to access.

It can be found here: https://asd.fema.gov/inter/nefrls/home.htm

FEMA set up a locator system to help people displaced by Hurricane Gustav get in touch with their family members.

All you have to do is sign up with the National Emergency Family Registry Locator.

It lets up to seven people access your information, including ways to contact you.

There's a special section for missing children.

Lost or displaced Gulf Coast residents will be able to search for their families in Hurricane Gustav's aftermath through a new FEMA locator system that was created as a lesson learned from the chaotic 2005 storms, FEMA Director David Paulison said.

An estimated 18,000 people were reported lost immediately after hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma slammed into the Gulf Coast and Florida three years ago.

The National Emergency Family Registry Locator system aims to replace frantic and piecemeal attempts — mostly through personal Web sites or nonprofit aid agencies — to find missing relatives. Paulison said it can be accessed through FEMA's Web site at www.fema.gov or by calling toll-free at 1-800-588-9822.

Evacuees contact OnStar for assistance DETROIT - They started calling General Motors Corp.'s OnStar service by the thousands early Saturday, and by Sunday, their numbers had grown to well over 3,000 per hour. Nearly all were wanting to know the best way out of Hurricane Gustav's path.
As more than 2 million people tried to outrun the deadly storm, OnStar beefed up its staff to around 500 and put emergency plans in place at three call centers in Pontiac, Oshawa, Ontario, and Charlotte, N.C. Managers expected Sunday's calls to reach 75,000, about double the number on a normal Sunday.