Disaster Accountability Project

The Disaster Accountability Project (DAP) is a non-partisan watchdog organization dedicated to improving disaster management systems. DAP was founded in 2007 by Ben Smilowitz as a reaction to the responses to hurricanes Katrina and Rita.[1] DAP is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and is a 2008 Echoing Green fellowship organization.[2]

Disaster Accountability Project
Founded2007
FounderBen Smilowitz
FocusDisaster management
Methodorganization, education, advocacy
Websitedisasteraccountability.org
Ben Smilowitz in 2016

Initiatives

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  • Disaster Accountability Project Hotline - a toll free hotline through which survivors of a disaster, relief workers, and whistle-blowers can report gaps in relief services.[3]
  • Federal Emergency Management Agency's ice policy - an effort to pressure FEMA to reverse its decision to only deliver ice for "medical emergencies" following a disaster.[4]
  • FEMA Structural Reforms - among other reforms, DAP has advocated for the elevation of the FEMA Administrator to a U.S. Cabinet-level position.[5]
  • Report on Southern Louisiana Emergency Preparedness[6] - a study conducted in 2009, which evaluated the emergency preparedness plans of 22 Southern Louisiana parishes based upon their comprehensiveness and accessibility to the general public.[7][8] The study revealed that 11 of the 22 parishes surveyed could not or would not produce copies of their emergency plans when requested.[9][10][11][12]
  • ReliefOversight.org[13] - a website created as a response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake. ReliefOversight.org monitors the activities of relief organizations in disaster zones during the aftermath of a natural or man-made disaster.[14][15][16]

References

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  1. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-10-12. Retrieved 2010-06-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. ^ "Ben Smilowitz - Echoing Green". Echoinggreen.org. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
  3. ^ SCHMIDT, KATHRINE. "Got a beef with FEMA? Call this hotline". Houmatoday.com. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
  4. ^ "SunHerald.com : FEMA getting heat on ice". Archived from the original on 2008-06-11. Retrieved 2010-06-14.
  5. ^ "Group wants FEMA head in Cabinet". Politico.com. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
  6. ^ "» Report on 22 Southern Louisiana Parish Emergency Plans Released Disaster Accountability Blog: Public Accountability Requires Citizen Action (Disasteraccountability.org)". Archived from the original on 2009-07-21. Retrieved 2010-06-14.
  7. ^ "New report warns of gaps in Louisiana disaster plans". Nola.com. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
  8. ^ "Report Warns of Gaps in Louisiana Emergency Plans, Officials Skeptical". Insurancejournal.com. 7 May 2009. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
  9. ^ "Disaster Accountability Project". Emergencymgmt.com. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
  10. ^ King, Naomi. "Report calls local hurricane plan mediocre". Houmatoday.com. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
  11. ^ "Don't miss Project's findngs". Iberianet.com. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
  12. ^ Naomi King. "Report: Parish disaster plan lacking". Houmatoday.com. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
  13. ^ "Relief Oversight | Aid Work Accountability Made Public by Disaster Accountability Project". Archived from the original on 2010-02-04. Retrieved 2010-06-14.
  14. ^ "Web Sites Ask Public to Monitor Relief Efforts in Haiti". Philanthropy.com. 21 February 2010. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
  15. ^ "helphaitiquake". Helphaitiquake.blogspot.com. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
  16. ^ "Apps of Kindness: Civic Hackers Coding for Haiti Launch New Form of Volunteerism « Chrissie Brodigan". Archived from the original on 2010-06-23. Retrieved 2010-06-16.
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