Disaster Accountability Project
{{Short description|American non-profit watchdog organization}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Disaster Accountability Project
| logo = Disaster Accountability Project (logo).jpg
| type =
| founded_date = 2007
| founder = Ben Smilowitz
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| focus = Disaster management
| method = organization, education, advocacy
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| homepage =[http://www.disasteraccountability.org/ disasteraccountability.org]
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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.{{Cite web |url=http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/o/archives/2008/sep08/sept_observerweb.pdf# |title=Archived copy |access-date=2010-06-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012163959/http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/o/archives/2008/sep08/sept_observerweb.pdf# |archive-date=2012-10-12 |url-status=dead }} DAP is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and is a 2008 Echoing Green fellowship organization.{{cite web|url=http://www.echoinggreen.org/fellows/ben-smilowitz|title=Ben Smilowitz - Echoing Green|website=Echoinggreen.org|access-date=18 August 2018}}
Initiatives
- 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.houmatoday.com/article/20090326/HURBLOG/903269927?tc=ar|title=Got a beef with FEMA? Call this hotline|first=KATHRINE|last=SCHMIDT|website=Houmatoday.com|access-date=18 August 2018}}
- 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.sunherald.com/pageone/story/610739.html |title=SunHerald.com : FEMA getting heat on ice |access-date=2010-06-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080611043815/http://www.sunherald.com/pageone/story/610739.html |archive-date=2008-06-11 }}
- FEMA Structural Reforms - among other reforms, DAP has advocated for the elevation of the FEMA Administrator to a U.S. Cabinet-level position.{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0309/19643.html|title=Group wants FEMA head in Cabinet|website=Politico.com|access-date=18 August 2018}}
- Report on Southern Louisiana Emergency Preparedness{{cite web |url=http://blog.disasteraccountability.com/2009/05/05/report-on-22-southern-louisiana-parish-emergency-plans-released/ |title=» Report on 22 Southern Louisiana Parish Emergency Plans Released Disaster Accountability Blog: Public Accountability Requires Citizen Action (Disasteraccountability.org) |access-date=2010-06-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090721164244/http://blog.disasteraccountability.com/2009/05/05/report-on-22-southern-louisiana-parish-emergency-plans-released/ |archive-date=2009-07-21 }} - 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2009/05/new_report_warns_of_gaps_in_lo.html|title=New report warns of gaps in Louisiana disaster plans|website=Nola.com|access-date=18 August 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southcentral/2009/05/07/100303.htm|title=Report Warns of Gaps in Louisiana Emergency Plans, Officials Skeptical|date=7 May 2009|website=Insurancejournal.com|access-date=18 August 2018}} The study revealed that 11 of the 22 parishes surveyed could not or would not produce copies of their emergency plans when requested.{{cite web|url=http://www.emergencymgmt.com/emergency-blogs/disaster-zone/Disaster-Accountability-Project.html|title=Disaster Accountability Project|website=Emergencymgmt.com|access-date=18 August 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.houmatoday.com/article/20090507/ARTICLES/905071005|title=Report calls local hurricane plan mediocre|first=Naomi|last=King|website=Houmatoday.com|access-date=18 August 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.iberianet.com/articles/2009/05/06/opinion/editorials/doc4a01ddd0ecb06160595108.txt|title=Don't miss Project's findngs|website=Iberianet.com|access-date=18 August 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.houmatoday.com/article/20090507/ARTICLES/905079920?tc=ar|title=Report: Parish disaster plan lacking|author=Naomi King|website=Houmatoday.com|access-date=18 August 2018}}
- ReliefOversight.org{{Cite web |url=http://www.reliefoversight.org/# |title=Relief Oversight | Aid Work Accountability Made Public by Disaster Accountability Project |access-date=2010-06-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100204223402/http://www.reliefoversight.org/# |archive-date=2010-02-04 |url-status=dead }} - 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.{{cite web|url=http://philanthropy.com/article/Web-Sites-Ask-Public-to/64257/|title=Web Sites Ask Public to Monitor Relief Efforts in Haiti|date=21 February 2010|website=Philanthropy.com|access-date=18 August 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://helphaitiquake.blogspot.com//2010/02/reliefoversightorg-aims-to-inform.html|title=helphaitiquake|website=Helphaitiquake.blogspot.com|access-date=18 August 2018}}{{cite web |url=http://blog.chrissiebrodigan.com/2010/02/apps-of-kindness-civic-hackers-coding-for-haiti-launch-new-form-of-volunteerism/ |title=Apps of Kindness: Civic Hackers Coding for Haiti Launch New Form of Volunteerism « Chrissie Brodigan |access-date=2010-06-16 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100623101817/http://blog.chrissiebrodigan.com/2010/02/apps-of-kindness-civic-hackers-coding-for-haiti-launch-new-form-of-volunteerism/ |archive-date=2010-06-23 }}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.disasteraccountability.org Disaster Accountability Project website]