When the next storm hits, call 2-1-1

The deadly windstorm we faced in December exposed some drastic weaknesses in our ability to respond to a disaster, both locally and statewide. Luckily, as a region, we were not facing a disaster on the scale of Hurricane Katrina or 9/11.

The governor and state Legislature are currently considering enhanced investments in one of the key solutions that our citizens need: a clear, easy-to-use number for information about where to turn in a crisis.

Gov. Christine Gregoire has appointed an "after action review team" to identify actions that will enhance Washington state's preparedness for future emergencies. In its preliminary report, one of the five critical areas identified by this team is to address the problem of 9-1-1 system overload.

In times of disaster, residents' needs vary. These needs range from critical — those requiring immediate emergency response — to basic information requests or long-term referrals for assistance with shelter and food. 9-1-1 is often swamped with noncritical calls during a crisis.

The review team's recommendations suggest that it is time to study the cost and feasibility of a new communications system to provide nonemergency information.

To Seattle residents, these findings may sound familiar: Mayor Greg Nickels, in a report to the Seattle City Council, supports the idea of creating a similar phone number (3-1-1) to improve Seattle's communication system during such events, though he indicates the creation of such a system would be "fairly expensive."

We agree everyone needs to be better-prepared for a large-scale emergency — individuals, families, nonprofits and government. We also agree we need to have a conduit of information available to all residents so they can receive help in a time of crisis — not just locally, but statewide. It should be a simple, easy-to-remember phone number.

The good news? This system already exists.

The phone number 2-1-1 went statewide in February 2006. It's is an easy-to-use number to obtain accurate and specific information on localized resources. Whether it's information about emergency-shelter locations, utility assistance, food-bank assistance or rent and mortgage help, 2-1-1 has provided our citizens with more than 230,000 referrals since its launch. But we're only beginning to realize the widespread benefits of this simple-to-use number.

The number could be used to disseminate critical information during an emergency. It can be used to help with programs the state government is promoting to help its citizens and it can be used to find community organizations that have the capability to help us during personal or community-wide emergencies.

In King County, 2-1-1 operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Local businesses, United Way and other nonprofits have helped provide the resources 2-1-1 needed to get up and running across the state. It is up to our government to give this vital system the further resources necessary to allow us a sufficiently robust system to handle all levels of emergency.

This year's state Legislature is considering the level of support it is willing to allocate for 2-1-1. The number can be the indispensable resource in our communities that provides a link to the services needed when one or thousands of us experience crisis.

But this can only happen if the Legislature gives it the resources necessary to live up to that promise — resources to add enough operators to meet the growing call volume and to operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week statewide, linking regions not affected by a disaster with those that are.

It is a wise investment for all of us in Washington to support the growing 2-1-1 system in our state. The benefit of choosing 2-1-1 is that it provides local and state governments with a preexisting, efficient, effective solution, without duplicating the process or expense required to create a new number.

Michael Bisesi is director of Seattle University's Center for Nonprofit and Social Enterprise. Jon Fine is president and CEO of United Way of King County.