Presenter: Gary Ostroske, Chairman

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Public-Private Partnership

• Presenter Gary Ostroske, Chairman
• Louisiana Association of United Ways

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Past Model (Pre-Katrina) 2-1-1 Information
Referral System
2-1-1 connects people to crisis and recovery
services.
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Before Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

• 6 separate regional call centers
• No statewide coordinated disaster plans
• 6 separate databases
• Limited uniform protocols
• Limited 24/7 coverage
• No direct access to 2-1-1 for wireless callers.

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Expanded United Way/AIRS 211 Information
Referral System
136,098 Calls Answered in August and September
2005
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New York Times
2-1-1 Continues to be Effective
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2-1-1 Recognized as Critical Statewide System
United Way partners with Louisiana Artist George
Rodrigue.
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Current Model (PostKatrina)
Information Referral System
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Before Hurricanes Gustav and Ike

• 6 integrated call centers
• Statewide coordinated disaster plans
• Centralized Disaster database
• More Uniformed protocols
• 24/7 coverage
• Direct access to 2-1-1 for wireless callers.

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Complete Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP)
Phone System Solution

• 24/7/365 support from Cisco certified engineers
• System-wide redundancy in case of disaster
• all major phone system hardware/software exists
  in two mirrored sites across the country
• Highly scalable can take virtually unlimited
  calls during call spikes
• May add a large number of agents very quickly
  with minimal technology requirements
• a phone and fast access to the Internet
• May instantaneously alter the way calls come in
  and who answers them

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Disaster-related 2-1-1 Software

• Designed by the United Way of America
  (UWA)/Alliance of Information and Referral
  Systems (AIRS) 2-1-1 Disaster Response Team
• Implemented in 2007 by the Pangea Foundation in
  response to the 2007 San Diego wildfires
• Web-based, simple interface
• Can instantly communicate (and coordinate) urgent
  updates and scripted information from
  governmental entities
• Can provide up-to-the-minute information on road
  closures, evacuation orders, and disaster-related
  phone numbers 

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Overflowing Calls During Hurricanes Gustav and Ike
California 2-1-1
Los Angeles
Smoothstone VOIP
San Diego
Monroe
Shreveport
San Francisco
Baton Rouge
New Orleans
Lafayette
Lake Charles
Louisiana 2-1-1
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Call Volume to 211 By Week and Location
Call Data as of September 28, 2008

Call Data As of September 28, 2008
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Her electricity had not yet been restored to her
home and she was running low on food.  To make
matters worse, her roof had been damaged and
there was extensive water damage to her home,
said a volunteer. We were able to find a
shelter close to her home, arrange
transportation for her and her children, and got
her registered with FEMA for financial
reimbursement. She Couldnt Thank Us Enough.
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Future Model 2-1-1 Information Referral System
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Thank you

• For further information please visit,
  www.launitedway.org