[from the Disaster Accountability Project] For Immediate Release:

IKE SURVIVORS WANT PHONE NUMBERS, NOT ONLY WEBSITES FOR DISASTER RELIEF

MANY WAITING FOR INFORMATION ON ICE DELIVERY, GENERATORS, SHELTER COOLING

WATCHDOG TO FEMA:  Reverse Ice Policy Now, Deliver Ice.  Medical Emergencies Will Happen If Individuals Do Not Have Access To Ice

Heat Relief Shelters and Cooling Centers in Houston needed ASAP:  There are reports of no air-conditioned shelters in Houston. Temperatures may be as high as 100 F on Sunday.

Numerous calls have arrived on the Disaster Accountability Project's Hotline today from Texans frustrated that many relief groups are encouraging individuals to apply online for post-disaster services when four million+ Gulf Coast residents are without power.

Hotline message: "Yes, I'm listening to the local radio stations in TX with disaster Ike.  Everybody keeps referring to 'check us out online' (for relief services, etc).  Well we have 2.2. million people who have no electricity, who have no cable, who have no telephone so they can't 'check out online,' it just gets rather aggravating.  Thank you."  ***SOUND FILES AVAILABLE***

"FEMA and other relief services need to accommodate the 4.4 million without power and internet because of Ike.  Add more phone lines to call centers and expect more calls and less online registrations or information delivery via the web.  These are things that should have been learned after Katrina--- hopefully we won't have the same issues after Ike.  We've had plenty of time to fix these things," said Ben Smilowitz, Executive Director, Disaster Accountability Project.

Ice Delivery

Multiple hotline messages asked about ice delivery plans.  Now that FEMA has dropped post-disaster ice delivery responsibilities, it is unclear who is delivering ice, and how ice will be delivered.  This information should be made available before a disaster strikes, not after.  

"If individuals do not have ice for prescriptions, there will be more medical emergencies and the emergency response system will be even more stressed.  FEMA should step up to the plate and ensure ice is delivered as soon as possible," said Ben Smilowitz, Executive Director, Disaster Accountability Project.  The Disaster Accountability Project is leading a national campaign to reverse FEMA's post-disaster ice delivery policy.  

Cots and Mattresses were not provided at all TX shelters last night.  Hopefully this will be addressed as soon as possible.

Disaster Food Stamp Assistance Information:  Expedited disaster food-stamp assistance information will be needed ASAP and not only on the web.  FEMA and TX government should ensure this information is available at relief sites and shelters.  Food Stamp services took too long to be delivered after Gustav-- some Gustav-affected communities are only now finding out that they qualify.

Toxic Water Risks: Not enough information on the ground about toxic water risks.  

Red Cross Should Share Portion of Fundraising With Local Organizations:  Local organizations must also fundraise to meet local needs but major fundraising efforts by larger relief organizations with heavy advertising often crowd out local organizations' abilities to raise funds.  


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 they’re quickly addressed—and 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 http://www.DisasterAccountability.org

Disaster Accountability Project is a 2008 Echoing Green Fellowship Organization.

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