9/13/07: HOTLINE FOR DISASTER RELIEF SERVICE GAPS READY FOR HUMBERTO CALLS

Contact: Ben Smilowitz — 314-761-7631

Ben@DisasterAccountability.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

HOTLINE FOR DISASTER RELIEF SERVICE GAPS READY FOR HUMBERTO CALL

Group Has Monitors In Region, Recruiting More

The Disaster Accountability Project’s toll-free hotline (866-9-TIP-DAP) is ready for Humberto-related calls from Texas and Louisiana residents. Should there be gaps in Disaster Relief services in Texas or Louisiana in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane/Tropical Storm Humberto, individuals should use the toll-free hotline (866-9-TIP-DAP) to report the specific location and nature of the service gaps.

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

“The sooner gaps in services are realized, the faster they’ll be addressed– especially when groups and agencies are exposed for not doing their jobs,” said Ben Smilowitz, 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 about gaps in disaster relief services will better ensure they’re quickly addressed, and made a top priority.”

The new, non-partisan Disaster Accountability Project provides accountability and oversight before, during, and after disasters 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 service gaps that must be made public and addressed. The group is recruiting a network of Disaster Accountability Monitors and Bloggers to help report, verify, and raise awareness about gaps in disaster relief services.

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

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