Tulsa begins first 211 information service in state

Monday, July 11th 2005, 10:27 am

By: News On 6

Tulsans have a new number to call for help. Mayor Bill LaFortune and community leaders placed the first official call to 211 Monday and kicked off an awareness campaign to introduce 211 to the community.

The number is designed to connect Tulsans to family and social services like counseling, health care, and government assistance. Officials say right now, 60,000 of those calls come to 911 each year. Not only do non-emergency calls tie up 911 lines for true emergencies, but paramedics and firefighters are often ill-equipped to help in such situations.

Tulsaâ€™s Communication Director Dale Hunter: "If you have a situation, let's say with an elderly parent that you're dealing with, or perhaps you have a disability and you need some assistance from somewhere in the community to help you deal with those issues, 2-1-1 is your number."

Tulsa's 211 center is the first in the state.