Tuesday, February 06, 2007
NOW WHAT IS FEMA UP TO? (BESIDES WASTING OUR MONEY)
RV Business
Monday, February 5, 2007
As the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) continues to push hurricane evacuees to find permanent housing nearly 18 months after Katrina, the agency is buying several thousand more trailers.
According to The Advocate, Baton Rouge, La., FEMA has spent nearly $30 million since July on 2,000 new travel trailers and mobile homes that are handicapped-accessible. The agency is also seeking proposals for another 1,500.
But fewer than half of the 2,000 trailers already delivered were occupied as of last week. Of the 10,000 or so handicapped-accessible travel trailers and mobile homes in FEMA’s inventory, just over half house people, with the rest in storage.
And Georgia-based Lakeside Park Homes, the company supposed to build the 2,000 trailers in a three-contract deal, was awarded two contracts by FEMA after encountering problems fulfilling the first.
Jack Torrance — executive director of the Louisiana Recreational and Used Motor Vehicle Commission — said he has questions about the contracts already awarded as well as about why more trailers are being bought.
The Advocate reported that FEMA’s staging area for trailers in Baton Rouge is proof the agency doesn’t need any more, he said.
“I have no idea why FEMA is buying all of these units now,” he said.
Torrance, whose agency licenses travel trailer and RV companies, said FEMA should try to renovate the trailers it already has to accommodate people with disabilities.
“A lot of the trailers FEMA has can be modified to handicapped-accessible at the drop of a dime,” he said.
FEMA said the purchases are tied to a federal lawsuit in New Orleans. Eleven disabled evacuees claim FEMA failed to provide temporary housing that meets their needs.
Last fall, the two sides reached a settlement in which FEMA, while admitting no wrongdoing, agreed to provide suitable housing.
The agreement doesn’t stipulate that FEMA must buy new trailers, only that the agency has to provide handicapped-accessible units, modify existing ones or find alternative housing. The settlement also states that if FEMA purchases new trailers or mobile homes, 10% must be handicapped-accessible.
Monday, February 5, 2007
As the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) continues to push hurricane evacuees to find permanent housing nearly 18 months after Katrina, the agency is buying several thousand more trailers.
According to The Advocate, Baton Rouge, La., FEMA has spent nearly $30 million since July on 2,000 new travel trailers and mobile homes that are handicapped-accessible. The agency is also seeking proposals for another 1,500.
But fewer than half of the 2,000 trailers already delivered were occupied as of last week. Of the 10,000 or so handicapped-accessible travel trailers and mobile homes in FEMA’s inventory, just over half house people, with the rest in storage.
And Georgia-based Lakeside Park Homes, the company supposed to build the 2,000 trailers in a three-contract deal, was awarded two contracts by FEMA after encountering problems fulfilling the first.
Jack Torrance — executive director of the Louisiana Recreational and Used Motor Vehicle Commission — said he has questions about the contracts already awarded as well as about why more trailers are being bought.
The Advocate reported that FEMA’s staging area for trailers in Baton Rouge is proof the agency doesn’t need any more, he said.
“I have no idea why FEMA is buying all of these units now,” he said.
Torrance, whose agency licenses travel trailer and RV companies, said FEMA should try to renovate the trailers it already has to accommodate people with disabilities.
“A lot of the trailers FEMA has can be modified to handicapped-accessible at the drop of a dime,” he said.
FEMA said the purchases are tied to a federal lawsuit in New Orleans. Eleven disabled evacuees claim FEMA failed to provide temporary housing that meets their needs.
Last fall, the two sides reached a settlement in which FEMA, while admitting no wrongdoing, agreed to provide suitable housing.
The agreement doesn’t stipulate that FEMA must buy new trailers, only that the agency has to provide handicapped-accessible units, modify existing ones or find alternative housing. The settlement also states that if FEMA purchases new trailers or mobile homes, 10% must be handicapped-accessible.
