HURRICANE IKE DISASTER ACCOUNTABILITY HOTLINE ACCEPTING CALLS: 866-9-TIP-DAP (866-984-7327)

09/11/2008 Ben Smilowitz Comments Closed

Contact: Ben Smilowitz: 314-761-7631

Ben@DisasterAccountability.org

For Immediate Release:

PLEASE DISTRIBUTE TOLL FREE HOTLINE IN AFFECTED AREAS: 866-9-TIP-DAP (866-984-7327)

The Disaster Accountability Project’s toll-free hotline (866-9-TIP-DAP) is accepting Hurricane Ike-related calls from Gulf Coast residents and relief workers. Should there be gaps in Disaster Relief services before or after landfall, individuals should use the toll-free hotline (866-9-TIP-DAP) to report the specific location and nature of the service gaps. Please distribute in affected areas and locations that receive evacuees.

“The sooner gaps in services are realized, the faster they’ll be addressed,” said Ben Smilowitz, Executive 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. Public knowledge of gaps in disaster relief services will better ensure theyíre quickly addressedóand made a top priority.”

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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