On Feb. 16, 1968, a 911 emergency call was placed in Haleyville, Ala. It was the first time Americans could call a single number for police, fire and medical emergencies.

Almost exactly 38 years later, residents of Island, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish and Whatcom counties will join the 135 million Americans in 32 states who already have another number to call for help: 211.

Starting Wednesday, North Sound 211 will allow area residents to cut through red tape and get access to the services they need. While 911 is the number to call during an emergency, 211 connects callers to important community, state and federal services, as well as volunteer opportunities.

When Hurricane Katrina struck last year, 211 demonstrated its value by relieving the burden on 911. It enabled police, fire and medical personnel to focus on responding to life-threatening emergencies. In Louisiana, 211 connected callers with information on food and shelter. And in Texas, more than 250,000 people called 211 about housing and jobs.

But this free, easy-to-remember number isn’t only useful during disasters. It serves as a front door to a wide range of services and community activities for children, families and seniors every day. For example, 211 provides access to public and private programs that offer legal and housing assistance, counseling, immunizations and physical education, among others – providing hope to thousands of families.

North Sound 211 – the result of a community partnership led by Volunteers of America Western Washington and United Way of Snohomish County – will be one of four call centers launched Wednesday in Washington. Together, they will serve 60 percent of Washingtonians. And by 2007, eight call centers will provide statewide coverage.

Like 911, the beauty of 211 is its simplicity. It’s a resource we all can use to find answers and get connected.

Jay Inslee and Rick Larsen represent the 1st and 2nd Congressional Districts, respectively. Both are advocates of federal funding for 211.