[StBernard] St. Bernard Begins Phase-Out Of Trailer Sites

[Westley Annis]

St. Bernard Begins Phase-Out Of Trailer Sites

CHALMETTE, La. -- St. Bernard Parish has begun what officials called a
gradual phase-out of trailer parks established as temporary homes for the
displaced.

The first four of the parks, which house small white campers provided by the
Federal Emergency Management Agency, were set to close Friday.

FEMA spokesman Ronnie Simpson said at one time, the four housed about 180
families. As of late Friday, they had about 20, parish councilman Craig
Taffaro said.

Despite the deadline, Simpson and other officials said no one would be
immediately kicked out of the homes.

The plan doesn't immediately affect trailers in front of houses that
residents are trying to fix or rebuild, and Taffaro said no trailer resident
would be left homeless as a result of the park closures.

Nearly 5,300 households live in FEMA trailers or mobile homes in the parish.
Statewide, there are nearly 43,000 FEMA trailers and mobile homes for
residents displaced by Katrina or Hurricane Rita, which hit in September
2005.

Most, nearly 34,000, are in front of homes or on private sites; about 9,100
are on larger group sites, including some set aside for police or other
workers.

Parish officials announced the phase-out in July. They hope to have it
completed by Jan. 31.