From hurricane help to health care questions - 2-1-1 is there

Posted: Thursday, November 8, 2012 12:00 am | Updated: 2:58 am, Tue Jan 15, 2013.

(BPT) - Wouldn’t it be great if there was a number you could call if you had any sort of question about resources in your community, from something as simple as where to find the nearest library to something as urgent as where you can find relief after a catastrophic event? Good news: You don’t have to wish for this all-in-one help line, as it already exists in vast majority of American communities. It’s as simple as three numbers: 2-1-1.

While the Eastern Seaboard recovers from Hurricane Sandy, 2-1-1 operators have been standing by to direct the storm’s victims to the resources they need, and inform volunteers how and where they can help. While calling 9-1-1 will get you help when you are in immediate danger, 2-1-1 can point you in the right direction for less pressing, yet equally important, needs. And when emergency personnel are operating at peak capacity during major emergencies like Hurricane Sandy, 2-1-1 becomes a valuable resource for those seeking aid.