Hurricane Katrina: Resources regarding missing/located people

Thursday, September 1, 2005

With victims of Hurricane Katrina moved to shelters and remote locations, their relatives and friends in other parts of the world have turned to the web to try and establish contact and confirm their health. Many families living in the path of Katrina have even been split up as they are rescued and now desperately need to contact each other.

Several web sites have started forums for posting information on missing people. The forums also allow individuals and families in the path of the hurricane who are safe post their information, where they are now located and how their family should contact them.

The American Red Cross is keeping records of all persons they treat and assist, but those records are not available either by phone or online. They have issued a press release titled AMERICAN RED CROSS URGENT FAMILY ALERT. Quoting, in part:

The Red Cross does not have information on the well being of any individuals.

Our phone lines are being overwhelmed with calls, and we appreciate the desire to know how people fared during the storm.

Please do not contact any Red Cross media representatives with welfare inquiries.

Text messaging

A caller to WAMU's radio program The Kojo Nnamdi Show on August 31st relayed information that while cell phones couldn't make or receive calls because of network overload, text messaging to otherwise unreachable cell phones was working.

Missing Persons Hotlines

Here are some hotlines for people to call:

Missing persons:

1-(800) WEFIND
1-(866) GET-INFO
(225) 925-6626
(337) 234-7371
(225) 925-7402

Websites for lost/found people

Aidpage Katrina People Locator Also - make pages for missing or found people, post updates, pictures, add links to resources
Find Our Family.Com
National Missing Persons Registry
Craig's List Katrina Main Page
Missing and found people photos
katrinaconnections Site dedicated to connecting Katrina victims
Forum from Local Paper in New Orleans
CNN's Katrina 'Safe List'
Full Circle's Katrina Victims and Families message board
Connecting the homeless with those willing to host them
Katrina Relief Wiki
www.familymessages.org
MSNBC.com's Looking for list
MSNBC.com's Safe list
Post Free Photo Ads of Missing Persons & Pets
Survivors Reunited - Search for missing people, leave messages, upload photos

Sources

Laura Sydell. "Seeking News, New Orleans Citizens Turn to Web" — NPR, September 1, 2005

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