Friday, April 13, 2007
THE QUESTION NOBODY IS ASKING: HOW MUCH MONEY IS THE GOVERNMENT GOING TO LOSE WHEN THEY AUCTION OFF THESE TRAILERS? (OUR TAX MONEY)
RV Business
Friday, April 13, 2007
The Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA) recently met with key officials of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to discuss the agency’s sell-off of trailers procured for emergency housing following the 2005 Gulf Coast hurricanes.
The April 11 meeting in Washington, D.C., resulted from testimony RVDA President Mike Molino delivered to a congressional subcommittee on March 20, where he called for government procedures to minimize the impact that RV surplus trailer auctions will have on RV dealers and the RV market.
FEMA officials David Garratt of the recovery division and Maryanne Lyle of the logistics division told RVDA that they are trying to be extremely sensitive to local markets.
In addition to individual units that are auctioned for FEMA through the General Services Administration (GSA), Lyle told RVDA many of its surplus RVs are auctioned in lots and that a number of RV dealers are bidding through this process.
In his testimony, Molino asked that FEMA consider selling units in lots to make it more likely that dealers would participate and help restore the units before they reach end-use customers.
Garratt and Lyle also told RVDA that they are using various processes to place excess travel trailers with other federal agencies and state governments, which will help keep these units out of the normal stream of commerce. Garratt said FEMA intended to keep at least 13,500 emergency housing units in inventory for future disasters.
“It was a productive meeting and a good first step to improve the communication between RV dealers and FEMA,” said Molino. “FEMA officials said they will work to keep RVDA and RV dealers informed of their emergency housing processes, both before and after disasters.”
Friday, April 13, 2007
The Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA) recently met with key officials of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to discuss the agency’s sell-off of trailers procured for emergency housing following the 2005 Gulf Coast hurricanes.
The April 11 meeting in Washington, D.C., resulted from testimony RVDA President Mike Molino delivered to a congressional subcommittee on March 20, where he called for government procedures to minimize the impact that RV surplus trailer auctions will have on RV dealers and the RV market.
FEMA officials David Garratt of the recovery division and Maryanne Lyle of the logistics division told RVDA that they are trying to be extremely sensitive to local markets.
In addition to individual units that are auctioned for FEMA through the General Services Administration (GSA), Lyle told RVDA many of its surplus RVs are auctioned in lots and that a number of RV dealers are bidding through this process.
In his testimony, Molino asked that FEMA consider selling units in lots to make it more likely that dealers would participate and help restore the units before they reach end-use customers.
Garratt and Lyle also told RVDA that they are using various processes to place excess travel trailers with other federal agencies and state governments, which will help keep these units out of the normal stream of commerce. Garratt said FEMA intended to keep at least 13,500 emergency housing units in inventory for future disasters.
“It was a productive meeting and a good first step to improve the communication between RV dealers and FEMA,” said Molino. “FEMA officials said they will work to keep RVDA and RV dealers informed of their emergency housing processes, both before and after disasters.”
