Emergency Services
211 SAN DIEGO
Connecting People in Times of Need
Bill York with Jonathan Woldemariam , SDG & E Director of Wildfire Mitigation and Vegetation Management and 211 San Diego Board Member
As one of San Diego ’ s most trusted non-profit organizations , 211 San Diego has been connecting San Diegans 24 hours a day , 365 days a year , for almost 20 years . It is one of the leading 211 organizations in the nation , helping San Diegans access more than 6,000 community services like food assistance , mental health services , rental and utility payment assistance , COVID testing , vaccination and other medical care .
Often overlooked is 211 San Diego ’ s role in helping San Diegans respond to regional disasters and the threat of wildfires . 211 San Diego ’ s highly trained staff and volunteers provide realtime , verified information to residents on evacuation routes , emergency shelters and other critical resources , thereby relieving pressure on the 911 system . During the 2007 wildfires , news broadcasts flashed the 211 number on screens , and Sheriff ’ s Deputies referred evacuees to 211 for help . 211 San Diego received a deluge of calls - 25,000 calls on the second day of the fire and more than 44,000 calls on the third day !
40 GBSAN . COM | AUGUST 2021