Governor Blagojevich sets up hotlines making it easier for public to help hurricane victims; Provides Gulf Coast evacuees one-stop access for state assistance

SPRINGFIELD - Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today announced two new hotlines that will make it easier for the general public to help Hurricane Katrina victims, and that will help Gulf Coast evacuees arriving in Illinois find out what state services are available to them.

 

The Governor is appealing to Illinois residents to contribute to the Red Cross' efforts to help victims in the hurricane-stricken areas in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, by calling the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, at 800-HELP-NOW, or visiting their secure internet site at www.redcross.org.

 

"When a national disaster occurs, like the tragic events in the Gulf Coast, we must unite as a country and provide aid to those that desperately need our help. By calling the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund's toll-free number, we all can become involved in a special and urgent campaign to help our fellow Americans in their time of need," said the Governor.

 

Additionally, the Governor has set up a toll-free number that is part of the state's centralized effort to assist refugees from Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama who come to Illinois. The number, 1-800-843-6154, went live yesterday, and will stay in service for as long as needed.

 

"People who come to Illinois from the Gulf Coast have been through a nightmare. They arrive here with just the clothes on their backs and they need critical services quickly," said Gov. Blagojevich. "All our state agencies are coordinating to provide evacuees food, clothes, medical assistance, shelter and other services. By calling this toll-free number, victims of the hurricane and organizations serving them can get the answers they need as they try to cope with this tragedy."

 

The toll free number will provide evacuees from areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina with another alternative to the Red Cross for obtaining timely information on urgently needed services.  To date, Illinois has received between 400 and 500 evacuees, most of who are in the Chicagoland area, with smaller groups also in Springfield and the East St. Louis area.

 

By calling the number, displaced families will be able to find out how and where they can get food, clothing and medical care. Operators from the Department of Human Services will also be able to offer information on food stamps, emergency and temporary housing, and K-12 public school enrollment.

 

The toll-free line, which is part of a multi-agency effort to respond to the humanitarian crisis in the Gulf Coast, will also provide unemployment information, help displaced veterans find out what services are available to them in Illinois, and provide assistance to persons with disabilities and seniors.

 

Since Hurricane Katrina made landfall Monday, Gov. Blagojevich ordered all state agencies to respond in a coordinated manner to help both the recovery and cleanup efforts in the Gulf Coast, and the evacuees coming into Illinois. Illinois' efforts to date include: