[Katrina-IT-Volunteers] Counseling, and FEMA applications

[Ray Shea]

On the last page of the FEMA app is a "Create Account"
button.  Unfortunately it's not a mandatory step so I
think some people are not doing it, but you really
need to.

It will ask you to create a userid and password and
enter your email address, and then it will email a
pin.  You will need all three (userid, password, PIN)
to check the application status.  The first time you
log in with the PIN that was mailed to you, it will
make you change it to something else, so be aware.

Also, the FEMA website was working a lot better last
night after about 9:30.  Before then, though, it was
practically unusable.

If you locate a family member through the search
sites, the best  thing is to call the number attached
to the entry.  If none is provided (which happened to
me once), what I did was google the Red Cross in the
city where the found person is and call the local
number there until you find somebody that sounds like
they know what they're doing in terms of getting a
message to the loved one.  (I don't know if that
actually worked, though, I haven't got back in touch
yet with the person I was helping.)



ray


 
--- Chip Rosenthal <chip at unicom.com> wrote:

> On Fri, Sep 09, 2005 at 09:22:32AM -0700, Ray Shea
> wrote:
> > Is there any way we can get some kind of official
> > instructions on how to fill out the FEMA
> application? 
> 
> The usability of the system is distressing.  Imagine
> the poor folks that
> don't have the computer skills we do ...
> 
> I've never done one completely end-to-end.  Can
> somebody clarify the
> process for me?  Here is what I think is going on:
> 
> 1.  First, you register your case and get a FEMA ID.
> 2.  Then, you continue to create an online account
> so that you can check
>     the case status.
> 
> Is that what is happening?  I ask because when I was
> there earlier this
> week, lots of people were getting IDs but failing to
> create accounts.
> At the time we were thinking this meant they didn't
> have a case in the
> system, but now I'm thinking they do.
> 
> Second question, once a loved one has been located
> elsewhere (say San
> Antone or Houston), what is the best next step?
> 
> -- 
> Chip Rosenthal * chip at unicom.com *
> http://www.unicom.com/
> W00t!  I have a weblog! *
> http://www.unicom.com/chrome/
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