California DMV Available to Help Victims of Hurricane Katrina

Sacramento- The California Department of Motor Vehicles is making every effort to help Hurricane Katrina evacuees who traveled 1,500 miles to California to restart their lives - efforts that may necessitate a California driver license.
“Governor Schwarzenegger wants his administration to do what it can to help those people whose lives were impacted by Hurricane Katrina,” said Business, Transportation and Housing Agency Secretary Sunne Wright McPeak. “The DMV can have an important role in fulfilling the governor’s request.”
The DMV is working with extra speed to help evacuees obtain personal documentation from their home states so they can get jobs in California until they can return home or, if they choose, start building new lives here on a permanent basis.
“We know Hurricane Katrina evacuees face a daunting situation,” said DMV Director Joan Borucki. “We truly are here to help.”
DMV has created special packets for hurricane victims who wish to obtain information or apply for a California driver license or ID card. The packets are assembled in local DMV offices and are handed to persons who identify themselves as evacuees at DMV “start here” windows. The packets include a California Driver Handbook, a change of address form and other necessary information.
DMV also has added valuable, user-friendly information for hurricane evacuees on its Website at www.dmv.ca.gov. Users simply have to click on the link next to the hurricane-shaped icon at the top of the homepage to access information and other links to state government Internet sites in Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida.
Evacuees also can call DMV’s toll-free line at 800-777-0133 for help.
As an extra service, evacuees with special or unique problems will be handled on a case-by-case basis by the DMV Licensing Security Policy Unit at DMV headquarters in Sacramento. DMV may be able to act as a liaison for evacuees between their home state and other government agencies.
DMV personnel statewide also are involved in various community-based events to help hurricane victims during the next few days. On Friday, September 16, DMV technicians will take part in an information fair for hurricane evacuees in Los Angeles sponsored by The Sentinel newspaper, SBC Communications, “The Beat” and KJLH radio stations. The event will be held at 3800 South Crenshaw Boulevard from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
DMV staffers also are providing information and outreach to hurricane victims at Red Cross local assistance centers in San Diego, Sacramento and Riverside Counties.