This is a good moment for mission-based organizations to remember that a telephone system is a strategic information and communication technology system. 

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, not everyone has access to internet tools for locating displaced loved ones, but telephone service is widely available. 

In the world of telephony, there are at least two projects in progress that are somewhat parallel to the web-based Katrina PeopleFinder:
Here's how Dan Schoeffler, creator of ContactLovedOnes.Org, describes it:
CLO is an open, non-private voicemail system indexed by telephone number.

For example, Jane is looking for her missing father. She calls CLO’s toll-free number and enters his usual telephone number. She can then leave a voice message for him or listen to messages from him. When her father calls the toll-free number, he enters his own phone number. He can then leave a message for other callers to hear saying he is safe and how he can be contacted or he can listen to messages left for him.

As of this moment, ContactLovedOnes.Org is still in development. Air America Radio's Public Voicemail  is up and running.