5/29/09: Comment on President Obama’s visit to FEMA: Show how FEMA is ready, don’t just say it.
May 29, 2009
Contact: Ben Smilowitz – (314) 761-7631
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Comment on President Obama’s visit to FEMA: “Show how FEMA is ready, don’t just say it.”
Disaster Accountability Hotline ready for Hurricane Season calls: 866-9-TIP-DAP
“FEMA must show how it is ready for hurricane season, sweeping reassurances are not enough,” said Ben Smilowitz, Executive Director of the Disaster Accountability Project. “Americans must know exactly where FEMA is deficient so they can more effectively prepare and hold FEMA accountable for making the critical improvements recommended since Hurricane Katrina.”
As Hurricane Season begins, U.S. Department of Homeland Security is reassuring the public that the Federal government is “ready” for hurricane season. While public reassurance is important, the term “ready” may not be the most accurate word. Rather, a more accurate assessment might be that FEMA is “more ready than last year” and a detailed assessment of what is “ready” and what is “not ready” should be made public.
“Four years after Hurricane Katrina, while much has been done, a number of questions still linger. FEMA has yet to reveal how thousands of ‘lessons realized’ have yet to become ‘lessons learned,'” said Smilowitz.
– Emergency Plans Are Not Available, Complete and Updated: A recent Disaster Accountability Project exercise reviewing 22 Southern Louisiana parish emergency plans revealed that many parish plans have not been updated since Hurricane Katrina (2005). Most parish plans are not available to the public and do not include key criteria that FEMA uses to evaluate state and local emergency plans. The report and related Associated Press and local stories are available on the Disaster Accountability Project website and upon request.
– Mass Care Deficiencies: Recent Government Accountability Office reports suggest massive gaps in mass care capacity in both FEMA and the American Red Cross. Since the GAO 08-1175T report was published, the American Red Cross has laid-off a significant number of staff across the United States and in its Washington, DC office. This move puts an increased reliance on volunteers to fulfill key Mass Care functions attending to the most vulnerable after disasters. A summary of key points from the GAO report are available upon request.
– Ice Distribution: After Hurricane Ike, FEMA melted thousands of pounds of ice outside Houston while millions were still in need. In a controversial move, Craig Fugate has said that FEMA should not be responsible for providing ice after disasters. The Disaster Accountability Project, a number of local organizations across the Gulf Coast, and leading emergency managers and vulnerable local governments in Alabama and Mississippi disagree. Related news articles from last year are available on the Disaster Accountability Project’s website and available upon request.
– Disabled and Vulnerable Populations: FEMA’s “Disability Coordinator” position is buried in FEMA bureaucracy, inconsistent with Post-Katrina Act requirements that the position be housed in the FEMA Administrator’s Office. Post-Katrina recommendations for FEMA Regional Disability Coordinators in each FEMA region have yet to be implemented, leaving millions of Americans with additional needs in hurricane alley, and earthquake, flooding, and wildfire zones vulnerable. Recent Congressional testimony on this issue is available upon request.
– Housing: FEMA recently revealed new disaster housing options but offered little insight on how many units are available and what improvements have been made to short and long-term disaster housing solutions since last Hurricane Season. As Hurricane Season arrives, thousands of Katrina trailer residents may find themselves homeless (again) if FEMA moves forward with trailer evictions.
– FEMA Assistance: A record number of successful appeals in Texas after Hurricane Ike point to questions about quality control and ample supervision of the FEMA contractors responsible for determining FEMA assistance after disasters. The issue of quality control, inconsistencies, and awareness of contractors was raised during Mr. Fugate’s Senate confirmation hearing.
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The Disaster Accountability Project (DAP) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to the improvement of the United States disaster management systems through public accountability, citizen oversight and empowerment, whistle-blower engagement, and policy research and advocacy. The Disaster Accountability Project’s website is https://disasteraccountability.org.
A toll-free hotline (866-9-TIP-DAP) is available as a public service for disaster survivors, workers and volunteers to report critical gaps in disaster prevention, response, relief, and recovery services or planning. The group is recruiting a national network of Disaster Accountability Monitors and Bloggers to help report, verify, and publicize gaps in disaster services or planning.
Disaster Accountability Project is a 2008 Echoing Green Fellowship Organization.
For more information: http://www.echoinggreen.org/fellows/ben-smilowitz
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