our united way, northeast louisiana, monroe, began taking all calls directed from new orleans. overnight, we expanded from a four-person office center in monroe to a 65-per 211. we had additional support debt was outstanding -- that was outstanding from centers across america. there were hundreds of local volunteers that responded. as a result of that, in monroe, 211 responded to more than 111,000 calls in two months. the volume peaked at 7000, 358 -- seven dozen 358. after 2005, -- 7358 respondents. we were even more prepare for 2008. we have a partially it to credit telephony, a statewide disaster plan, a central disaster database, and 24 hours out reached -- average. -- outreach. we answered calls between the 21st and 16th of september, 2008. at peak of that, we were assisted by the 211 system in california, which was invaluable in expanding our capacity. in an eight-day window, the texas 211 answered 157,000 calls, an incredible response. inland, the aftermath of the hurricane caused unprecedented flooding and wind damage throughout the midwest. the 211 in missouri, indiana

finally, the president of northeast louisiana united way. she has served as a coordinating council person, this is a nationwide of emergency response system that i think can be very helpful in all of the issues that we have talked about this morning. if you will be again, thank you. >> can you pull the microphone a little bit closer? >> normally my voice works wonders. thank you for the opportunity to be with you this afternoon, to talk about the work of the partnership. we have provided written testimony and asked that this be included in the record. this is an initiative from the corporate response operation, to implement the best practices for disaster response and recovery efforts. this is developed by a group of private sector leaders to understand that better preparedness does not just depend on the actions of the federal government. this is a community-based approach, to galvanize the resources of the public and private sectors to address a large scale crisis. these sectors depend on each other as they collaborate on how to improve th

janet durden joining us of a community of northeast louisiana. my husband's home town and with katrina they did the good job as the office is dropped off, north louisiana picked up as i am sure what happened in texas, alabama, mississippi, f lorida the northern part of the state picks up a great amount of help and we want to hear about the increased activity of the 211 operation which is they go to operation when people need help and assistance they do not call 911 come with a call 211 and we want americans to understand that. the like to ask mr. fugate good to see you, senator. out by to ask mr. fugate to begin the may ask senator burr i know you were just coming in, welcome, do want to make and a brief opening statement or should we go right to the panel? thank you. we're happy to have craig 85 with us the new administrator from fema and man who i gave my whole hearted support they give for the work to have done but we look forward to hearing from your administrator 35 because we have made progress there is a tremendous amount of work that has t

janet durden joins us on behalf a community in northeast louisiana which i'm very proud my husband's home town and in katrina they did a phenomenal job as the offices dropped off of their ability in south louisiana, north laws f louisiana picked up as i'm sure the same thing happened in texas and in alabama and mississippi and florida as these storms come in, the northern part of the state picks up a great amount of help and we want to hear about the increased affect tivity of the 2-1-1 operation, which is sort of the go to operation. they don't call 9-11, they call 2-1-1 and we want to help americans understand that. so i'd like to ask mr. few gate, good to see you senator. i would like to ask mr. fugate to begin. let me ask senator burriss, i know you're just coming in and welcome. do you want to make any brief opening statement or should we go right to the panel? thank you. thank you, senator. we are happy to have craig fugate with us who is the new administrator from fema who i supported and many members of the senate, you are greatly experienced. we thank you for the work you've

janet durden joins us on behalf of a committee in northeast louisiana which i am very proud. my husband's hometown and in katrina, they did a phenomenal job through their 211 as the office is dropped off of their ability in south louisiana, north louisiana picked up as i am sure the same thing happened in texas and in alabama and mississippi and florida is the storms come in, the northern part of the state picks up the great amount of help. we want to hear about the increased activity of the 211 operation, which is sort of the go-to the operation when people need help and assistance. they don't call 911, they call 211 and we want to help americans understand that. with that opening statement i would like ask mr. fugate-mag good to see a senator. i would like to ask mr. fugate, if you can let me ask senator burris, i know you are just coming in and welcome. do you want to make any brief opening statements or should we go right to the panel? thank you, thank you senator. we are happy to have craig fugate with us who is the new administrative from the muck, and man that i support

hurricanes kachina and rita, the landfall of us katrina, it had to close and our united way of northeast louisiana began taking all the 211 calls that were directed from new orleans and overnight we have expanded from a four person call center to 65 person 211, we had additional support that was outstanding. from 211 call specialists around america, 25 states send people to our committee and there were hundreds of local volunteers who responded. as a result of that in monroe, 211 responded to more than a hundred 11,000 calls in two months. mccaul volume peaked at 7,000 the day that rita hit. after 2005 we were even better prepared for 2008. going into the hurricane season of 2008, we have a partially integrated telephony, statewide disaster plan, centralized disaster database, and 24 hours a day seven day a week average. 211 louisiana answer more than 117,000 calls between hurricane gustav hitting on august 31st of september 16th of 2008. in the peak of that, we were assisted by the 211 system in california which was invaluable in expanding our capacity during it in a day window when hurricane ike

janet durden, president of northeast louisiana united way. she served as a coordinating councilperson for louisiana 211 but this is a nationwide emergency response system that i think can be very, very helpful in all of the issues that we've talked about this morning. so mr. forceman, if you'll begin. thank you. >> senator, thank you very much for the invitation to be here. >> can you pull the mic a little bit closer. there you go. >> normally, my booming voice works wonders. senator landrieu, thank you for the opportunity to be with you this afternoon and to talk about the important work of the ready community's partnership. we provided written testimony and respectfully request that it be included in the record. it seeks to identify and implement best practices that help support improvements in public and private sector disaster response and recovery efforts. this initiative has grassroots. developed by a coalition of public and private sector leaders who recognize that better preparedness for emergencys and disasters could not solely depen

united way, united we of northeast louisiana and monroe began taking all of the 211 calls directed from new orleans. overnight we expanded from a four person call center and mom wrote to a 65% to 11. we have additional support that was outstanding. from 211 call specialists of america 25 states send people to the community and there were hundreds of local volunteers that responded. as the result of that in lonrho, to 11 responded to more than 111,000 calls in two months. the call volume peaked at 7,358 the day that rita hit. after 2005 we were even better prepared for 2008. going into the hurricane season in 2008 we had a partially integrated telephony, statewide disaster plan, centralized the sastre database and 24 hour day 70 a week coverage. 211 louisiana answered more than 170,000 calls between gustav hitting august 31st and a december 16th 2008. in the peak of that we were assisted by the 211 system of california which was invaluable expanding capacity and a today window when ike hit texas and the timber texas 211 answered 157,000 calls an absolutely incredible response. inland, th

our united way, the united way of northeast louisiana and monroe, began taking all the 211 calls that were directed from new orleans. overnight we expanded from a four-person call center there in monroe to a 65-person 211. we had additional support that was outstanding from 211 call specialists around america. twenty-five states sent people to our community, and there were hundreds of local volunteers that responded. as a result of that in monroe, 211 responded to more than 111,000 calls in two monts. the call volume peaked at 7,358 the day that rita hit. after 2005 we were even better prepared for 2008. going into the hurricane season in 2008, we had a partially-integrated telephony, a statewide disaster plan, a centralized disaster database and 24 hour a day, 7 day a week coverage. 211 louisiana answered more than 117,000 calls between gustav hitting on august 31st and september 16th of 2008. in the peak of that, we were assisted by the 211 system in california which was invaluable in expanding our capacity. in an eight-day window when ike hit texas in september, the texas 211 answe