Re: Katrina Survivors Read This (unclemick checked in)
(from a relative who works for MCI)
MCI Launches Toll-Free Locator Service to Reunite People Displaced by Hurricane Katrina
[Comm Mkts US, Global Accts, Gov't Mkts US]
MCI has introduced a simple, toll-free phone service to help people impacted by Hurricane Katrina communicate their conditions and whereabouts to family and friends by simply using their 10-digit home phone number as an identifier. The service also allows displaced people and those attempting to locate the missing to connect through a toll-free phone number.
Callers can choose to either:
Register themselves by calling (877) HELP-KAT or (877) 435-7528
Locate someone who is missing by calling (866) 601-FIND or (866) 601-3463.
To Register
People impacted and/or displaced will be prompted for their home phone number; month, day, and year of birth (for individual identification); and a callback number where they can be reached. The service will notify the caller if he or she is the first to register the number or if someone else has already done so. If others have registered the number, the earlier registrant's month, day, and year of birth as well as callback number will be replayed, giving the caller the option to connect automatically to that person.
Registrants will also be told if someone has previously searched for their number and will give them that caller's birth month, day, and year in addition to callback information with an option to connect.
Even if displaced people currently do not have a callback number, they should still call and register so family members and friends will know they are alive. Registration information can be updated later with callback numbers when they become available.
For any 10-digit primary home phone number, up to nine callback numbers and birth month, day, and year can be registered to accommodate alternate contact numbers and multiple family members.
To Locate Someone
Caller will be prompted for home phone number of person he or she is trying to locate.
The callback number and birth month, day, and year of the displaced person will be played back.
The caller can connect automatically to the displaced person's callback number.
The service will also notify the caller if the number searched has not yet been registered, and it will allow the caller to enter his or her birth month, day, and year and callback number to be replayed when and if the missing person's phone number is registered.
This service is available to everyone, not just MCI customers, and supports English, French, and Spanish. The service is limited to U.S. geographic users only.
