8/19/07: DISASTER ACCOUNTABILITY PROJECT PREPARING FOR DEAN

Contact: Ben Smilowitz — 314-761-7631
Ben@DisasterAccountability.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

DISASTER ACCOUNTABILITY PROJECT PREPARING FOR DEAN

Group Recruiting Accountability Monitors And Publicizing Toll-Free Hotline

For Reporting Gaps In Disaster Relief Services

WASHINGTON: The Disaster Accountability Project is stepping up its efforts to recruit Disaster Accountability Monitors and Bloggers across the Gulf Coast region in preparation for Hurricane Dean.

In the event of a disaster, monitors will:

1) disseminate the toll-free hotline (866-9-TIP-DAP).
2) assist individuals with reporting gaps in disaster response/relief services.
3) help verify reported gaps.
4) help publicize gaps.

“The sooner gaps in services are realized, the faster they’ll be addressed– especially when organizations, relief agencies, and the government are exposed for not doing their jobs,” said Ben Smilowitz, Director, Disaster Accountability Project, and former site-manager of a Red Cross Client Service Center in Gulfport, MS soon after Katrina hit. “After Katrina, there was no whistleblower hotline and, as a result, too much was kept from the public. Public knowledge about gaps in disaster relief services will better ensure they’re quickly addressed, and made a top priority. Fundraising relief groups cannot be expected to publicize gaps in their services and people suffer more without independent oversight.”

The new, non-partisan Disaster Accountability Project provides accountability and oversight before, during, and after disasters 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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