[StBernard] FEMA's Office of Intergovernmental Affairs: Administrator Paulison Statement and Formaldehyde Flyer

[Westley Annis]

STATEMENT OF ADMINISTRATOR R. DAVID PAULISON

Over the last two months, FEMA has significantly increased its focus on
formaldehyde-related health concerns raised by Gulf Coast disaster victims.
These individuals reside in FEMA-provided travel trailers and mobile homes
in the Gulf States.   

 

Formaldehyde is a common indoor air pollutant that can be found in nearly
all homes and buildings.  It is a colorless gas that is released into the
home from a variety of indoor sources.  Formaldehyde can also be found in a
variety of materials used in home construction and products for everyday
living.  FEMA has received a relatively small but meaningful number of
inquiries from residents of FEMA trailers who have had medical symptoms
possibly related to formaldehyde fumes.

 

Today I am announcing several steps FEMA has taken to address these concerns
and to work more closely with residents who may have concerns about
formaldehyde exposure.  These include:

 

Air Quality Testing and Research.  Pursuant to a plan under development for
several weeks, health experts at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and
Department of Homeland Security's Office of Health Affairs will conduct a
preliminary field study that will test air quality conditions in
FEMA-purchased housing units under real-life conditions.  Testing will begin
on Tuesday, July 24, 2007.  In addition, the CDC team is comprehensively
reviewing known research in order to provide FEMA with advice about the
safety of environmental conditions in travel trailers.  We are also looking
into engineering solutions that may be available effectively to remove
environmental pollutants from the trailers.

 

Additional Outreach to Travel Trailer Occupants.  Beginning tomorrow,
Saturday, July 21, 2007, FEMA will distribute a formaldehyde and housing
fact sheet (see attached) to the occupants of each FEMA travel trailer and
mobile home in the four Gulf States.  Currently 64,805 households occupy
these units in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.  Ninety-seven
percent of these units are located in Louisiana and Mississippi.  This fact
sheet will provide basic information about formaldehyde, its possible
medical effects and contacts for further assistance.  Similar information
was provided to residents of all FEMA trailers in the Gulf last year.  The
new brochure is also available at www.fema.gov <http://www.fema.gov/> .   

 

Dedicated Toll-Free Help Line.   Beginning at noon EDT on Saturday, July 21,
2007, FEMA will open a toll-free telephone line to serve residents of its
travel trailers and mobile homes in the Gulf States.  Operators from CDC and
FEMA will be available to answer questions about the formaldehyde-related
issues and associated FEMA housing concerns.  The toll-free number is
1-866-562-2381 (TTY 1-800-462-7585).

 

Medical Community Outreach.  The DHS Chief Medical Officer will contact
state health officials in the region to share information about FEMA's
communications with occupants of FEMA trailers and mobile homes.

 

Reinforcing FEMA's Commitment to the Public.  Earlier this week, I was
troubled to learn that some FEMA employees may have not acted with the speed
and sensitivity I expect in addressing the concerns raised by some victims
of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.  I will deal with these issues swiftly.
FEMA's first priority is the health and welfare of disaster victims we
serve.  Anything less is totally unacceptable.  

 

I know that the FEMA team I am privileged to lead does hold sacred this same
commitment.  Today I am communicating directly to all FEMA employees to
reinforce this essential message.