Media

Status Report-Hurricane Relief Effort-Emergency Operations Command Center

Release Date: September 9, 2005

Memphis & Shelby County Emergency Management Agency Claude Talford, Director Office: (901) 324-8799 E-mail: eoc.esf02@memphistn.gov

Important Reminder

• Evacuees need to register with FEMA at www.FEMA.gov or call (800) 621-3362. There are no physical FEMA sites in Memphis and Shelby County. Evacuees must call or register online.

• FEMA disaster team members are visiting coordinators at the Red Cross shelter and various church shelters to explain benefits that might be available to evacuees. Due to the numbers of evacuees, the teams will not be able to personally visit all of the shelter residents.

Rumor Control

Rumor: Hundreds, maybe thousands of evacuees from New Orleans are being routed to Memphis and Shelby County.

Fact(s): Citizens continue to leave New Orleans. It is not clear whether Shelby County will receive more evacuees. We are monitoring the situation through TEMA (Tennessee Emergency Management Agency) headquarters in Nashville, TN.

Rumor: Evacuees can register for FEMA assistance at the Dunn Avenue Red Cross Shelter.

Fact(s): THIS IS INCORRECT. Evacuees must register for FEMA assistance by calling (800) 621-3362 or online at www.FEMA.gov. There are no physical FEMA assistance sites in Memphis and Shelby County.

What’s New This Evening?

There are approximately 80 residents currently residing at the official Red Cross Shelter at Dunn Avenue Elementary School at 1500 Dunn Avenue near Airways Blvd.

1. Displaced citizens are urged to use the Red Cross shelter to ensure they receive all services available to them.
2. Families can stay together in the individual classrooms. Memphis Police Officers, Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputies and Memphis City School Officers are there to help keep the shelter residents safe.

EMA is transporting evacuees from the Red Cross headquarters on Central.

• The Red Cross has temporarily shut down its victim assistance operations at its headquarters on 1400 Central Avenue.

• EMA and MATA have teamed up to transport evacuees seeking assistance at this location to satellite locations where assistance centers are set up (see “Red Cross Assistance Centers" later in release for locations).

There are 812 evacuees currently staying at church shelters in Shelby County.

• Churches need to contact the EMA Operations Center at (901) 324-5618 daily and report the number of evacuees staying at the shelter.

• Evacuees continue to receive spiritual support, meals and recreational activities from churches throughout Shelby County.

First Church in Downtown Memphis Invites Evacuees to Fellowship.

• First Church (United Methodist) downtown at Second and Poplar invites Hurricane Katrina evacuees and volunteers to its open house on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2005, at 11 a.m.

• The church will conduct a picnic-style cookout in the church portico and gospel singers will entertain the evacuees and volunteers while they eat and fellowship.

• Call Senior Pastor Rev. Martha B. Wagley at 9901) 526-9949 or 527-8362 for more information.

New Operating Hours for Displaced Citizens’ Assistance Center

• The new operating hours for the Displaced Citizens’ Assistance Center are 10:00 a.m. – 6:p.m., 7 days a week.

• The phone number is (901) 543-5600.

• Those seeking to volunteer can call (901) 324-8799, between 10:100 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., 7 days a week.

New Job Fair for Evacuees and Memphians

• Med Clean and Clean Suite will host a job fair for evacuees and Memphis residents with proper identification (driver’s license or Social Security print out) on Monday, September 12, 2005, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• The fair will be held at 6073 Mt. Moriah, Suite 7, in the Appletree Center.

• The companies are looking to hire 80 employees.

• Call Ragan Denton at (901) 433-7835 for more information.

Hurricane Katrina Evacuees Can Ride Free on MATA Buses

• Hurricane Katrina evacuees who show proper identification that demonstrates they are from an area affected by Hurricane Katrina can ride MATA buses free of charge.

• MATA bus schedules are available at www.matatransit.com or call (901) 274-6282.

Tennessee Department of Human Services Offices Closed Weekends

• All Tennessee Department of Human Services Offices are routinely closed on weekends.

• Evacuees seeking food vouchers can go to the offices Monday – Friday.

Red Cross Assistance Centers For Displaced Citizens

The Red Cross registers displaced citizens for food, medical and housing benefits at the following two churches in Shelby County:

• Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church at 70 North Bellevue
• Germantown Baptist Church at 9450 Poplar Avenue

These sites offer large facilities and lots of parking to handle the growing number of evacuees needing to apply for benefits. Hours of operation:

• Saturday, September 10 8:00 a.m. through 6:00 p.m.
• Sunday, September 11 1:00 p.m. through 6:00 p.m.
• Monday, September 12 8:00 a.m. through 6:00 p.m.

The Red Cross also registers evacuees at the service center at the Schering Plough Company at 3022 Jackson. Operation hours are the same as the churches listed above.

However, as a result of the added service center locations, the Red Cross has temporarily suspended registering displaced citizens for benefits at the Red Cross Headquarters building at 1400 Central.

Memphis/Shelby County Health Department Medical Surveillance at Shelters

• The Health Department’s Epidemiology Program will conduct enhanced surveillance for infectious diseases at local shelters, hospitals and other medical facilities, as evacuees may have been exposed to contaminated water and materials during the evacuation process.

• Medical issues of concern include:
  • Gastrointestinal
  • Respiratory (pertussis, influenza-like illness, etc.)
  • Neurologic (meningitis/encephalitis)
  • Skin and soft tissue infections
  • Pneumonia
  • Viral Hepatitis

Donation Centers Established In Germantown

• Germantown Fire Stations at 2700 Cross Country Drive, 8925 Dogwood Road, 7766 Farmington Boulevard and 3031 Forest Hill Irene Road are accepting donations of bottled water and all types infant care supplies (diapers, baby wipes, formula, etc.).

• Clothing and other items are NOT being accepted at the stations.

Special Request of Hotel/Motel Managers

• Managers need to call the EMA Emergency Operations Center at (901) 324-5618 and report the number of hurricane evacuees staying at their facilities.

• Attempts are being made to determine the number of displaced citizens who are lodging at hotels/motels in Shelby County.

State of Tennessee Food Vouchers

The State of Tennessee is operating two assessment centers.

1. 1909 South Third Street. Hours of operation are from 8:00 to 4:30 p.m.
2. 3360 South Third. Hours of operation are from 8:00 to 4:30 p.m.

Only displaced citizens residing in Shelby County from declared disaster areas in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana may apply for these special benefits.

Salvation Army Services/Clothes & Furniture Donations

1. The Salvation Army has Wal-Mart gift cards available and also provides clothes vouchers to be redeemed at Salvation Army Thrift Stores in the Memphis area.
   
2. The Salvation Army and the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Services are also providing meals to disaster workers in Shelby County and the shelter residents in Tunica, Mississippi.
   
3. Clothes and furniture may be donated at the Salvation Army Service Center at 130 N. Danny Thomas near downtown Memphis. Call (901) 525-6676.
   

Three Public Donation Centers To Assist Hurricane Evacuees

1. Bartlett Fire Station No. 1.-2939 Altruria Road off Stage Road-Donations may be dropped off between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from Noon until 5:00 p.m. on Sunday.
   
2. The Main Branch of the Memphis/Shelby County Public Library-3030 Poplar Avenue in Memphis-Donations are accepted daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
   
3. U.S. Postal Service Center-3735 Hickory Hill-hours are from 9:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Very specific items are needed:

• Bottled Water, Canned Vegetables, Factory-Packaged Foods

• Baby Formulas, Baby Beds, Play Pens, Infant Car Seats, High Chairs

• Bath Towels

• Clothes are NOT accepted at these sites, but ARE accepted at the Salvation Army. Please see “Clothes and Furniture/ Salvation Army” listing above.

Medical Care Locations

• First Baptist Church in Millington-5010 West Union Street-Dr. Clay Jones is offering free care seven days a week to victims. The clinic is open from 9:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m.

• “Quick Care” Medical Clinic-880 Madison-hours of operation: 5:00 p.m. through 10:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. through 6:00 p.m. on the weekends.

• Memphis/Shelby County Health Department clinics are open throughout Shelby County.

Mental Health Services

1. Case Management Incorporated: (901) 821-5600
2. Comprehensive Counseling Network (901) 353-5440
3. Midtown Mental Health Center (901) 577-0200
4. Southeast Mental Health Center (901) 369-1400
5. Southwest Mental Health Center (901) 774-7811

Volunteers

• More than 4,000 citizens have contacted Volunteer Memphis to help victims.

• Those interested in volunteering their time should call (901) 324-8799.

Care of Animals

• Shelter, pet food and supplies are available to hurricane victims with animals. Contact the Emergency Operations Center Pet HELPLINE at (901) 324-6220.

• Hurricane victims who traveled to the Shelby County area with their pets can take advantage of boarding facilities provided through the Memphis Animal Services free of charge.

• Many animals are being boarded through the Memphis Animal Shelter. The Memphis Humane Society is also coordinating foster care for pets and delivering food and supplies to pet owners who are staying in the Shelby County area.

• Veterinarians are also available to check pets and treat any health conditions.

Job Opportunities

• The Methodist Healthcare job fair will be held Wednesday, September 14, from 9:00 a.m. through Noon in the Memphis Professional Building, 1211 Union Avenue, on the First Floor.

• For information: (901) 516-0780 or www.methodisthealth.org.

EMA Emergency Operations Center Is Open—16 areas of concern being monitored in the hurricane relief effort in the Memphis and Shelby County area:

Transportation	Communications
Infrastructure	Fire Fighting
Information Planning	Human Services
Resource Support	Health & Medical
Urban Search/Rescue	Hazardous Materials
Food	Energy
Law Enforcement	Volunteers/Donated Goods
Recovery	Care of Animals

 

Important Numbers for resources in Shelby County

• Emergency Operations Center: (901) 324-6462-EMA Director Talford is available to discuss the relief effort at the Emergency Operations Center.

• Displaced Citizens’ Assistance Center: (901) 543-5600, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., seven days a week.

• General Donation Inquiries: (901) 324-6451.

• To Donate Clothing and Furniture: (901) 525-6676.

• To Volunteer: (901) 324-8799, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., 7 days a week.

• Germantown Area Assistance Resources: (901) 751-5654.

 

 

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