7/9/08: DISASTER ACCOUNTABILITY PROJECT COMMENTS ON CONGRESSIONAL TOXIC TRAILER HEARING

Contact: Ben Smilowitz: 314-761-7631

Ben@DisasterAccountability.org

For Immediate Release:

Disaster Accountability Project Comments on Congressional Toxic Trailers Hearing

“The sad fact is that when the Toxic Trailers hearing ends, disaster survivors will still be at the mercy of the same FEMA and HUD leaders whose actions left Gulf Coast residents exposed to formaldehyde in trailers for years. Where is the accountability? More discussion is needed regarding how disaster housing will be handled in the future.

FEMA’s recently released and long-overdue “housing policy” promises more of the same, and the status quo is unacceptable. Americans must demand more from the Federal agencies responsible for helping Americans during our nation’s most difficult and trying times,” said Ben Smilowitz, Executive Director of the Disaster Accountability Project.

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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 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.

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

Disaster Accountability Project is a 2008 Echoing Green Fellowship Organization.

For more information: http://www.echoinggreen.org/fellows/ben-smilowitz

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