FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AUGUST 12, 2014

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Karin Romans, Pro Bono Net
212-760-2554 x496 | kromans@probono.net
Laura Park, Lone Star Legal Aid
713.982.1986 | lpark@lonestarlegal.org

NATIONAL DISASTER LEGAL AID RESOURCE CENTER DEBUTS AS ONLINE HUB FOR ATTORNEYS HELPING WITH DISASTER RECOVERY

Attorneys nationwide now have a critical new tool in helping disaster victims, with the launch of the National Disaster Legal Aid Resource Center (www.DisasterLegalAid.org). The Resource Center is a groundbreaking effort to build a central hub of resources and information for legal aid staff and pro bono attorneys stepping up to help following a disaster, as well as for survivors who need immediate or long-term legal assistance. The Resource Center will serve as a national clearinghouse for disaster preparedness and ensure that the legal community has the expertise and the information required to provide immediate assistance once disaster strikes.

DisasterLegalAid.org incorporates responsive web design to optimize the user experience on a computer, tablet or mobile device. Drawing from the experiences of volunteer attorneys in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and other disasters large and small, DisasterLegalAid.org features concrete information and support for members of the legal community engaged in disaster response, namely:

•  Pro bono volunteers can access volunteer opportunities through a state-by-state Opportunities Guide that guides legal volunteers to pro bono disaster assistance needs and applicable organizations. Once they've signed on to help, pro bono attorneys can turn to DisasterLegalAid.org for online training to build expertise in legal areas out of their everyday practice expertise as well as checklists and other interactive tools focusing on post-disaster legal issues. Disaster-specific resources, including the most recent announcements and guidance from FEMA and other entities, are gathered on pages created immediately after each declared disaster to help keep pro bono volunteers armed with the latest information.
• Legal aid professionals can access informational resources and trainings on assisting clients with post-disaster issues such as flood insurance and FEMA assistance. Additional interactive resources for legal aid attorneys include disaster manuals and presentations, a checklist to guide Legal Services Corporation-funded programs through establishing post-disaster operations, and national group of disaster legal services experts serving as advisors to programs engaged in response efforts.

"DisasterLegalAid.org combines the expertise of local advocates representing survivors with powerful national networking tools," says Paul E. Furrh, Jr., CEO of Lone Star Legal Aid, which has handled 10,000+ cases following Hurricanes Rita and Ike and served as project lead for the National Disaster Legal Aid Resource Center. "The new Disaster Legal Aid Resource Center will put the lessons hard-won after hurricanes, floods and fires to use on a national level to help the legal community respond more quickly and effectively when victims need help navigating the road to recovery."

"Many disasters have a disproportionate and long-term impact on low-income communities and other vulnerable individuals" says Mark O'Brien, Executive Director of Pro Bono Net, a national nonprofit dedicated to increasing access to justice through innovative technology and collaboration, and lead partner in building the technology platform for the National Disaster Legal Aid Resource Center. "The revamped DisasterLegalAid.org greatly expands the tools and support available to legal aid staff, pro bono attorneys, law students and others helping survivors rebuild their lives."

The launch of the National Disaster Legal Aid Resource Center was spearheaded by Lone Star Legal Aid, working in partnership with the American Bar Association, the Legal Services Corporation, the National Legal Aid & Defender Association, Pro Bono Net and the Texas Legal Services Center. The www.DisasterLegalAid.org website was funded by the Legal Services Corporation's Technology Initiative Grant Program and leverages a state-of-the-art technology platform developed by Pro Bono Net to support broad-based networks of legal aid, civil rights and pro bono lawyers.

For more information, visit www.DisasterLegalAid.org

About Pro Bono Net | www.probono.net
Pro Bono Net is a national non-profit organization dedicated to increasing access to justice for the disadvantaged. Through innovative technology solutions and expertise in building and mobilizing justice networks, Pro Bono Net transforms the way legal help reaches the underserved. Comprehensive programs including www.probono.net, www.lawhelp.org and www.lawhelpinteractive.org, enable legal advocates to make a stronger impact, increase volunteer participation, and empower the public with resources and self-help tools to improve their lives.

About Lone Star Legal Aid | www.LoneStarLegal.org
Founded in 1948, Lone Star Legal Aid acts as a safety net for at-risk Texans, providing free civil legal services to clients facing complex legal issues with no ability to afford a private attorney. Staff and volunteer attorneys work to protect the legal rights of low-income Texans in civil matters by providing advocacy, legal representation and community education. Headquartered in Houston, LSLA serves 72 counties in the Eastern and Gulf Coast regions of Texas and has responded to disaster ranging from periodic hurricanes to wildfires from drought to the
fertilizer-plant explosion in West, TX.