6/19/08: DISASTER ACCOUNTABILITY PROJECT EARNS PRESTIGIOUS ECHOING GREEN FELLOWSHIP

Contact: Ben Smilowitz: 314-761-7631

Ben@DisasterAccountability.org

For Immediate Release:

DISASTER ACCOUNTABILITY PROJECT EARNS PRESTIGIOUS ECHOING GREEN FELLOWSHIP

Disaster Accountability Project Created To Increase Accountability, Provide Public Oversight, Fix U.S. Disaster Management Systems

The Disaster Accountability Project (DAP), founded by former American Red Cross volunteer and University of Connecticut School of Law student Ben Smilowitz, received an Echoing Green Fellowship.

Nineteen emerging organizations around the world, out of nearly 1450 applicants from eighty-three countries, were awarded Echoing Green’s two-year Fellowship. The Disaster Accountability Project will receive $60,000 over two years, gain access to donors, technical support, a host of organizational development resources, and join a network of more than 450 social entrepreneurs around the world.

For more information about Echoing Green’s Fellowship: http://www.echoinggreen.org/fellows/ben-smilowitz
Visit and Support the Disaster Accountability Project: https://disasteraccountability.org

Soon after Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, DAP’s founder Ben Smilowitz directly witnessed the failed response as the manager of a Red Cross Client Service Center in Gulfport, MS. With a background in civic engagement and issue campaigns, Ben started DAP as a watchdog organization to confront the root causes of the bungled disaster response and recovery. The Disaster Accountability Project launched in Aug 2007.

“Echoing Green is a huge honor and boost for the Disaster Accountability Project. More accountability and public oversight in FEMA and the American Red Cross will save lives– and this fellowship will help us do just that,” said Ben Smilowitz, Executive Director, Disaster Accountability Project.

“While working for the Red Cross in Mississippi, I told myself that if an organization did not exist to receive information about gaps in services from whistleblowers during disasters, and provide public oversight to the organizations that comprise the U.S. disaster prevention, response, relief, and recovery systems, I would start it,” said Smilowitz.

The nonpartisan Disaster Accountability Project is improving the nation’s disaster management systems through public accountability, citizen oversight and empowerment, whistle-blower engagement, and policy research. DAP provides accountability and oversight to the nation’s disaster prevention, response, relief, and recovery systems through monitoring and policy research.

Last week, DAP positioned itself in the forefront of a campaign to reverse a new FEMA policy that changes the agency’s post-disaster ice delivery procedures. Until recently, ice delivery was a central post-disaster FEMA responsibility. Now, FEMA is saying the Federal government will only deliver ice in medical emergencies. DAP is organizing organizations and Members of Congress in “hurricane alley” to send a clear message to FEMA that the dangerous policy must be reversed.

DAP’s Press Releases: Here

DAP’s News Articles: Here

Toll-free hotline: DAP’s “Disaster Accountability” 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.

Monitors: DAP is recruiting a national network of Disaster Accountability Monitors and Bloggers to help report, verify, and publicize gaps in disaster services or planning and review local and state disaster and evacuation plans to ensure they are sufficient.

Volunteer Opportunities: DAP is recruiting volunteers to help with a range of projects that include online research, graphic design, computer programming and web design, communications, outreach and organizing, and fundraising.

Statements of Support:

“If the Disaster Accountability Project can have even a modest positive impact on citizen-based, non-partisan oversight, accountability and follow-through for disaster-relief services, it will be worth every cent and every ounce of energy expended. Those impacted by disasters deserve no less.” — Dr. Ray Scurfield, Professor and Director, Katrina Research Center, The University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast, Long Beach, Miss.

“The Disaster Accountability Project is desperately needed infrastructure for ensuring that government and non-governmental agencies play an effective role, and do what they say, in preparing for and responding to disasters. We saw the result of not having effective oversight in the aftermath of Katrina and the continued inability of government services to hold themselves accountable. It’s long overdue.” — James Rucker, Executive Director, Color Of Change. ColorOfChange.org is an online organizing effort similar to MoveOn.org consisting of more than 135,000 members focused on amplifying black America’s political voice.

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