Events & News

News & Articles

GSA's National Contact Center Assists 21,200 After U.K. Blasts
Article from Feature Stories General Services Administration (www.gsa.gov)

When the bomb incident occurred in London on July 7, family and friends of Americans wanted to know if loved ones were safe. Many called the Department of State's Office of Overseas Citizens Services special hotline number, operated by the U.S. General Services Administration's (GSA) National Contact Center (NCC).

Since then, in keeping with GSA's focus on serving citizens, the Office of Citizen Services and Communications' NCC has responded to calls from thousands of Americans seeking information about family and friends in London. Agents at the center continue to collect information about loved ones and also the phone number of the callers. As in the weeks following the Indian Ocean tsunami, call center agents forward this information to the Department of State. When the whereabouts of loved ones is ascertained, the Department of State contacts the callers directly.

On July 7, the Department of State telephone line received an estimated 21,205 calls between the call center's opening at 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Typically; the center receives about 500 calls on this line. To respond to callers, the NCC brought in extra agents and provided a special message with updated information from the Department of State.

For information about American citizens who may have been affected by the July 7 bombings in London, people in the United States or Canada may call toll-free, (888) 407-4747. Callers from outside the U.S. and Canada may call (202) 501-4444.

At the same time, FirstGov.gov launched a special section to provide information and access to the Department of State and Department of Homeland Security websites and also provided a link to President Bush's message of condolence to the people of the United Kingdom.

FirstGov is the official web portal of the U.S. government managed by GSA.