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>>; http://www.wheremostneeded.org >>
If we were to have another disaster the size of Katrina, we are still not prepared. Why? The government, disaster, and volunteer organizations are trying to use the same pre-Katrina solutions that no longer work. So what did work after Katrina. People with technology were the most successful in moving people towards help and renewal.
#1. Everyone needs to have access to a cell phone, email, and be able to use a computer.
#2. Information and referral organizations need to have their community resources online for quick public access, with a backup system somewhere out of the community. See www.4People.org as an example of a comprehensive database of services that serves 19 counties, over 40,000+ square miles, in rural eastern Washington State.
#3. Community wide casemanagement systems need to be developed. See CAN.org that is currently casemanaging over 100,000 Katrina evacuees throughout the country, with multiple organizations as partners, and over 1000 online caseworkers providing casemanagement services in their areas. Including in the CAN.org system is a shelter tracking tool allowing casemanagers to find quick housing for disaster victims and to refer people to services they need.
#4. www.4People.org is powered by Tapestry/VisionLink, the same system used by CAN.org, but applying this to eastern Washington. 4People has over 4000 resource listings, including quick links in every county. 4People.org is being used by Homeless Coalitions to help reduce homelessness by sharing client information in a HIPAA complaint database and maximizing the community resources. 4People.org is being used by Health Care Agencies to help reduce the number of uninsured. 4People.org is being used by faith based organizations to help meet the unmet needs of the community.
Eastern Washington will have over 200 caseworkers trained and using the 4People system by the end of the year. We are getting prepared for a disaster in Seattle, where we might be required to serve thousands of people. We will be prepared.
Ronda Evans
4People
Connecting people to Resources
5210 W. 4th Ave.
Kennewick, WA 99336
509.543.2910
info
4People.us
www.4people.org
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