1/23/09: DISASTER ACCOUNTABILITY PROJECT COMMENTS TO NEW FEMA ADMINISTRATOR: FIX FEMA

Jan 23, 2009

Contact: Ben Smilowitz, 314-761-7631

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Disaster Accountability Project Comments To New FEMA Administrator: Fix FEMA

Embrace Administration’s Transparency Values, Prioritize Accountability, Staff-Up, Learn From Katrina

Report Release: Numerous Management-Level FEMA Vacancies Complicated Post-Katrina FEMA Improvement (Available Upon Request)

(January 23, 2009) – As Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano prepares to announce the Obama Administration’s new FEMA Administrator, the Disaster Accountability Project is requesting a FEMA Administrator that will prioritize transparency, accountability, communication, and citizen engagement in national emergency planning. The Disaster Watchdog urges the new FEMA Administrator to focus on improving agency staffing levels, disaster housing plans, relief and mass care coordination, implementation of post-Katrina recommendations, and communication and collaboration before, during, after disasters.

“FEMA suffered a number of serious fractures that never fully healed. The Agency has been plagued by incompetent political appointments, numerous management-level vacancies, continuous failures to learn from Katrina bungles, and serious lapses in transparency and accountability to the American people,” said Ben Smilowitz, Founder and Executive Director of the Disaster Accountability Project.

See Congressional Hearing segment on release of Draft National Response Framework without input from state emergency managers:

http://www.disasteraccountability.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27

See Congressional Hearing segment on consistent accountability failures that characterized recent FEMA Administration:

http://www.disasteraccountability.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=25

This month, the Disaster Accountability Project assessed the adequacy of emergency plans in some of the most hurricane-vulnerable Louisiana parishes. The Disaster Accountability Project rated 16 Louisiana parish emergency plans based on a 23-point set of criteria that include online accessibility to plans, provisions for the disabled and elderly, adequacy of communication during a disaster, and whether there is a clear hierarchy for decisions during an emergency. At nearly 3 1/2 years since Hurricane Katrina, only half of the Louisiana parishes complied with State Law and furnished plans. Fewer than half of the plans reviewed were recently updated and only four parishes provide plans online for public review.

“FEMA must provide more expertise and guidance and work with communities around the U.S. to assist in preparedness efforts. Past failures to engage all stake-holders in emergency planning cannot be repeated by this Administration,” said Ben Smilowitz. “The next FEMA Administrator should prioritize transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement in the planning and execution of all FEMA programs, as that is key to ensuring comprehensive preparedness and post-disaster services are delivered effectively.”

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Disaster Accountability Project is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization providing accountability and oversight to the nation’s disaster prevention, response, relief, and recovery systems through monitoring and policy research. The Disaster Accountability Project’s website is https://disasteraccountability.org.

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.

Disaster Accountability Project is a 2008 Echoing Green Fellowship Organization.

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

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