Sandra Gonzalez WGNO News

6:08 p.m. CDT, June 8, 2011
NEW ORLEANS—

Hurricane season is here. And if you think you'll need help evacuating in the event of a strong storm, you need to let the city know. But some are having a hard time making the call.

 “New Orleans 311. How can I help you?” an operator tells a caller.

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311 operators have been registering people who would need help getting out of town should the mayor call an evacuation. Lt. Col. Jerry Sneed, Deputy Mayor of Public Safety says its an easy process.

“All we need to know is the name, how many people they have, and how many pets they have and any thing like that, and actually the 311 operators will walk them through. It’s a very, very short thing they have to do,” Sneed said.

People like Jody Anderson say they need the city's help.

“I'm here in the city alone. I don't have a lot of family her so, so I'm one of the people dependent on the city to kind of help out,” Anderson said.

Sneed says at least 20,000 people have already signed up, but the city says it has discovered one small glitch.

“If you call on a Verizon cell phone service, you cannot get through on 311. We’ve talked to Verizon. They’re supposedly correcting that for us right now for us because it’s needed. But if they can’t get through, call 658-4000,” Sneed said.

In the meantime, Sneed is encouraging people who need to, to sign up now, because you never know what could transform in the tropics and head into the Gulf. The city is also looking for hundreds of volunteers to help if there is an evacuation.

“Loading buses, unloading buses, signing people up, walking them through, just helping our citizens get on the buses to get out of here,” Sneed said.

City officials however hope they won't have to activate an evacuation.

If you can't get through, the number to call is (504) 658-4000.

This Saturday, a ‘Hello Hurricane Season Summit’ gets underway at the New Orleans Museum of Art.