9/15/08: DAP CALLS FOR EMERGENCY RADIO STATION DEDICATED TO IKE RELIEF OR REG SHELTER LIST READING

Contact: Ben Smilowitz: 314-761-7631

Ben@DisasterAccountability.org

For Immediate Release:

DISASTER ACCOUNTABILITY PROJECT CALLS FOR EMERGENCY RADIO STATION DEDICATED TO IKE DISASTER RELIEF OR REGULAR READINGS OF FULL LISTS OF SHELTER/POD/RELIEF LOCATIONS ON COMMERCIAL RADIO STATIONS

The Disaster Accountability Project is finding that the most reported problem across the Ike-affected zone is widespread confusion due to lack of knowledge of available services — this is AMONG EXISTING RADIO listeners.

A dedicated Emergency Radio Station or individual commercial or public radio stations would facilitate the relay of continuous information about shelter locations, POD locations, open hospitals, and other relief and recovery information– on the hour or on another regular schedule. Much of the region is relying on radio stations for information but information is not presented in a consistent, comprehensive way, by county, across the affected areas within respective stations’ listening areas.

The Disaster Accountability Project has received over 65 calls on its Disaster Accountability Hotline since Hurricane Ike’s landfall. The most common message is that people do not know what to do, where to go, which hospitals are open, where relief services are, and where to find shelter. ** Now, with the gas shortage, many do not know how to travel to shelters and hospitals to use nebulizers, get ice for prescriptions, etc. These situations (in the many thousands) will turn critical in the near future.

Millions are still without power and have no access to television or internet. Individuals without working phones cannot call 211 or other FEMA/Red Cross/County/City hotlines.

The following list of shelters across affected areas should be regularly read — every hour, at a set time.
https://texas-nss.communityos.org/zf/nss/shelterpublicreport/state/tx

For a compilation of many calls that arrived via the Disaster Accountability Project’s Hotline, see:
http://blog.disasteraccountability.com/2008/09/15/hurricane-ike-hotline-calls-gaps-summary-91408/

Additional Recommendations/Issues:

Set a schedule for regular press conferences: People need to know when to turn on radios as many are conserving batteries.

Dedicated Radio station with emergency information only (i.e. shelter, POD locations) must relay information about large and small town relief services and give regular updates. People will follow directions and “stay put” longer if they hear the name of their county/town and get regular status/updates.

The lack of information is putting people at risk because they’re seeking information on their own and going places they shouldn’t. (i.e. increased number of traffic accidents – reported on 9/15/08)

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

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

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