[StBernard] FEMA's Office of Intergovernmental Affairs: FEMA STATEMENT ON DEPLOYMENT AND SALE OF TEMPORARY HOUSING UNITS

[Westley Annis]

FEMA Statement on the Deployment and Sale of Temporary Housing Units


Release Date: August 1, 2007
Release Number: HQ-07-152

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) confirmed
today that it has temporarily suspended the deployment and sales of travel
trailers used in emergency housing while the agency works with health and
environmental experts to assess health-related concerns raised by occupants.

Industrial hygienists, epidemiologists, medical toxicologists and
environmental health scientists from the Agency for Toxic Substances and
Disease Registry, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Environmental
Protection Agency, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and
Homeland Security's Office of Health Affairs are in Louisiana and
Mississippi to gather data and review measurements that consider relative
humidity, trailer design and usage. Because formaldehyde is commonly used in
building materials, and is prevalent in the environment, these experts have
been asked to identify an acceptable air quality level of formaldehyde. This
review will also consider air quality conditions in travel trailers when
they are used for prolonged periods, and identify means to reduce indoor air
levels of formaldehyde.

While these initial reviews are underway, and out of an abundance of
caution, FEMA will temporarily suspend the installation, sale, transfer or
donation of travel trailers or park model recreational vehicles currently in
its inventory.

FEMA may continue to install other types of federally regulated manufactured
housing for eligible disaster victims, such as mobile homes that meet or
exceed industry standards and are designed for long-term habitation.

FEMA will continue to move residents out of temporary housing and into
long-term housing solutions. Nothing is as important to FEMA and the
Department of Homeland Security as ensuring that disaster victims have a
safe and healthy place to reside during their recovery.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency coordinates the federal government's
role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to
and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made,
including acts of terror. 


The Deployment and Sale of Temporary Housing Units


1.	What kind of housing assistance will FEMA be providing to eligible
disaster victims?
	As a policy, FEMA will provide financial assistance (e.g. rental
assistance) as the preferred means for housing assistance.  When rental
resources are lacking, FEMA will look to alternative types of temporary
housing units for use in disasters.  Manufactured housing (e.g. mobile
homes), the construction of which is regulated by HUD and which is designed
for long-term habitation, will continue to be installed in support of and
occupied by eligible disaster victims.
2.	Which disaster areas will have housing units deployed?
	Those states with an open disaster declaration who have or will
employ direct housing initiatives. 
3.	What type of temporary housing units will FEMA be providing?
	Until FEMA receives final results and recommendations of the
research conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
no recreational vehicle (travel trailer or park model) currently in FEMA's
inventory will be installed or newly occupied.
	
	FEMA will provide manufactured housing (e.g. mobile home) for
eligible disaster victims in need of temporary housing.  The construction of
manufactured housing is regulated by HUD, meets or exceeds industry
standards and is designed for long-term habitation.
4.	Why isn't FEMA providing travel trailers in disaster housing
operations?
	Recreational vehicles are NOT regulated by HUD, since this form of
accommodation is designed for short, temporary habitation, not housing.
Accordingly, FEMA will not continue to offer recreational vehicles as a
temporary housing option until it has an opportunity to review the final
results and recommendations of the research conducted by the CDC.
5.	Is FEMA concerned about formaldehyde in manufactured housing?
	Manufactured housing construction is regulated by the Department of
Housing and Urban Development (HUD), since this form of housing is designed
for long-term habitation.  Millions of Americans live in manufactured
housing across the nation.  HUD regulations include provisions which limit
the amount of formaldehyde used in construction.  Accordingly, FEMA will
continue to utilize and offer manufactured housing that meets or exceeds
industry standards, as a temporary housing option.
6.	What are my options if I currently reside in a FEMA-provided travel
trailer or park model and have concerns about formaldehyde?
	Current occupants of a FEMA-provided travel trailer or park model
who are concerned about formaldehyde are encouraged to call our toll-free
number 1-866-562-2381 (TTY 1-800-462-7585).  FEMA will work with occupants
on a case by case basis to identify alternative housing options.  For
instance, FEMA may authorize rental assistance when resources are available.

7.	What kind of formaldehyde testing will be done?
	Industrial hygienists, epidemiologists, medical toxicologists and
environmental health scientists from the Agency for Toxic Substances and
Disease Registry, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and DHS's
Office of Health Affairs have deployed to Louisiana and Mississippi to
gather data and review measurements that consider relative humidity, trailer
design and use by residents that will allow them to develop a more
comprehensive study.  The experts have been asked to identify an acceptable
air quality level of formaldehyde in temporary housing units and develop a
plan for testing.  This review will also consider air quality conditions in
travel trailers when they are used for prolonged periods under real-life
conditions and identify means to reduce indoor air levels of formaldehyde to
acceptable levels.
8.	If requested, will FEMA conduct air testing on travel trailers or
park models?
	FEMA will not conduct by-request air quality tests of temporary
housing units.  However, state and local governments, and occupants, are
authorized to independently conduct air quality tests of FEMA temporary
housing units, on a non-reimbursable basis.
9.	Will FEMA continue its sales and donations of FEMA units?
	Any type of manufactured housing; which meets or exceeds industry
standards; and which is designed for long-term habitation, may continue to
be sold, transferred, or donated to any qualified individual or entity.
	
	Until FEMA has received the CDC's final results and recommendations,
no recreational vehicle (travel trailer or park model) currently in FEMA's
inventory will be sold, excessed, transferred, or donated to any individual
or entity. 
10.	What is FEMA doing for those who have already purchased a travel
trailer or park model and are concerned about formaldehyde?
	For units that were sold, transferred, excessed, or donated prior to
July 31, 2007, but remain under FEMA control (e.g., a buyer has paid for but
not yet retrieved the unit from a FEMA storage location), the transaction
will be allowed to continue, at the discretion of the unit recipient.