Dental Records Critical To Identification Process 

Release Date: November 3, 2005
Release Number: 1603-137

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BATON ROUGE, La. -- Survivors of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita who have not yet done so are being urged to report missing family members to the Find Family National Call Center (FFNCC) said state and local officials. Survivors are also asked to provide information on their missing loved one’s dentist or dental facility where they may have had work done. If no dental records exist, a quality close-up photograph of the victim smiling may be helpful.

“Dental records are one of the most valuable tools available to positively identify victims of Hurricane Katrina,” said Louisiana State Medical Examiner Dr. Louis Cataldie.

All dentists who have relocated from the New Orleans area are also being asked to contact the FFNCC to provide their contact information and the status of their office and records. Dentists whose offices were flooded or damaged are being urged to salvage as many records as possible. Dentists should call the FFNCC and ask to be connected to the dental section.

The FFNCC is the nationwide collection point and official coordination center for information on persons missing due to Hurricane Katrina. Individuals in the Baton Rouge area may file a report or submit dental records in person at the FFNCC located at 2084 South Sherwood Forest Blvd. Survivors and dentists may also call 1-866-326-9393 to provide the necessary information.

The FFNCC is a joint effort between the State of Louisiana and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The center includes specialty staff members from the state and the National Disaster Medical System’s Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Teams.

FEMA prepares the nation for all hazards and manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, trains first responders, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.

Last Modified: Friday, 04-Nov-2005 09:27:11