Baton Rouge, LA – The state social services department has set up an online database and hot line for people to check on their family and friends who were evacuated and sheltered before Hurricane Gustav.
The Internet-based locator is available at operationreconnect.dss.state.la.us/PersonLocator. Only individuals who were evacuated by state-assisted transportation will show up as registered in the evacuee-tracking system.
People can also check with Operation Reconnect through a hot line number: 1-800-957-1601. Family members who call the hot line will be asked to provide the name of the person they're trying to find, and operators will search the database of evacuees, as well as a Red Cross list that includes in-state and out-of-state evacuees. The Red Cross list includes only shelter residents who allow their names to be released.
Residents who evacuated for Gustav are in shelters in Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)