3/15/08: DAP CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLIC SCRUTINY OF EMERGENCY PROCEDURES AT LARGE SPORTS ARENAS

March 15, 2008

Contact: Ben Smilowitz – (314) 761-7631

ben@disasteraccountability.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

DISASTER ACCOUNTABILITY PROJECT CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLIC SCRUTINY OF

EMERGENCY PROCEDURES AT LARGE SPORTS ARENAS AND CONVENTION HALLS

Following the tornado hit at Atlanta’s 70,000 capacity Georgia Dome, the Disaster Accountability Project is calling for immediate public scrutiny of the emergency procedures at large sports arenas and convention halls across the United States.

Some sports arenas have emergency plans in place– but many do not. It is unclear whether a plan was in place or followed at the Georgia Dome as the basketball game continued, despite a tornado watch in effect.

“Reports of bolts and debris falling from the ceiling, the roof and giant TV screen screens waving, and people ‘hustling’ to the exits while others were unclear of what was going on, suggest a plan was not followed. Had there been more damage to the Georgia Dome, the number and extent of injuries would have been much worse,” says Ben Smilowitz, Director, Disaster Accountability Project.

“When a severe storm warning is issued during a basketball or hockey game, what is the standard operating procedure? Who is responsible, on-site, for following up-to-the-minute weather advisories? Does a plan exist for moving thousands of people to safe or more secure areas? These are all questions that must be asked in every community following the tornado hit at Atlanta’s Georgia Dome,” Smilowitz said.

The Disaster Accountability Project is asking Americans across the country to ask about the sufficiency or availability of disaster or emergency plans in their local stadiums, arenas, and convention centers.

The nonpartisan Disaster Accountability Project provides accountability and oversight to the nation’s disaster prevention, response, relief, and recovery systems through monitoring and policy research.

A toll-free hotline (866-9-TIP-DAP) is available as a public service for disaster survivors, workers and volunteers to report critical service gaps that must be made public and addressed. The group is recruiting a network of Disaster Accountability Monitors and Bloggers to help report, verify, and raise awareness about gaps in disaster relief services.

The Disaster Accountability Project’s website is https://disasteraccountability.org

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