FEMA trailers to Haiti

[mnunes810]

Located throughout the Southeast is a collection of approximately 120,000 FEMA trailers not currently in use. For Haitians potentially condemned to tent-life, these trailers could be a blessing. The ultra-simplistic camper-style trailers can hold 4 people in a relatively comfortable manner. That means the total stock of unused trailers could house up to 480,000 people- more than the total number of Haitians currently displaced by the recent quakes. Any takers?

Sources:

http://www.fema.gov/media/fact_sheets/inventory_reduction_housing.shtm

http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/americas/Haiti-Earthquake-Displaces-300000-81723677.html

[Americano]

Are the trailers stored for a US catastrophe such as another Katrina?

To bad some of our homeless can't qualify for a FEMA trailer.

[Donkey]

What would the logistics of getting them there be?

[Americano]

What would the logistics of getting them there be?

Difficult as many need refurbishment. I read the links and they're scattered around so ground transportation to a US port and then ocean shipping. Problem there being Haiti's port is closed due to quake destruction with no assessment of reopening. Military tents would probably be a faster and more logical solution?

[mnunes810]

For the most part these are trailers that have been repossessed from Katrina refugees after they had found new residence. Most need some work before they could be reissued as "new" trailers in the event of another disaster here in the U.S. FEMA may be planning to keep some of the trailers, but they are doing what they can to auction many off. So, to me, it looks as if they have more on hand than they want. And as to transporting them, during Hurricane Katrina they were carried via semi-truck, if I am not mistaken, so, that method could get them as far as the shipping ports and from there I would imagine most any cargo ship could take them on?

[mnunes810]

Difficult as many need refurbishment. I read the links and they're scattered around so ground transportation to a US port and then ocean shipping. Problem there being Haiti's port is closed due to quake destruction with no assessment of reopening. Military tents would probably be a faster and more logical solution?

That is a good point, and I did not realize the shipping ports in Haiti were closed, but perhaps the trailers could still be useful as a more long term solution (6-12+ months?), even if they can't be delivered instantly, as the towns become semi-functional again? Within a months time, I am sure the trailers could be rounded up and the ports made at least usable again.

[Americano]

That is a good point, and I did not realize the shipping ports in Haiti were closed, but perhaps the trailers could still be useful as a more long term solution (6-12+ months?), even if they can't be delivered instantly, as the towns become semi-functional again? Within a months time, I am sure the trailers could be rounded up and the ports made at least usable again.

Donkey's question of logistics is the heart of the matter. They have to be off the leased storage property in a specified amount of time (one of the reasons for the sales), transportation to repair facilities would be a big issue, then repairs, then transportation to a port(s), ocean shipping scheduling is not like a UPS pickup and last but not least transportation from the Haiti port to an area with waste disposal facilities. I'd think at least three months before they started trickling in to Haiti for usage.

A good idea but considering the logistics and costs it might be more effective to build temporary housing on-site.

[Evangeline]

Didn't those trailers have formaldehyde poisoning in them?

[Americano]

Didn't those trailers have formaldehyde poisoning in them?

A majority of travel trailers, mobile homes and foundation based homes are constructed with materials containing formaldehyde, primarily in the adhesives used to bind wood products such as plywood. Smaller units which are sealed for long periods of time don't have the square footage necessary to dissipate the gasses, nor were they ever intended for long-term residency.

And then ambulance chasing lawyers became involved:

http://www.txattorneys.com/news-110.html

It's the American way, questionable levels of formaldehyde gasses present in FEMA travel trailers being blamed on plywood imports from other countries. While those Americans choosing to live in travel trailers (very common in my poor rural area) seem content having roofs over their heads without lawyers in engaging class action lawsuits to earn millions for the law firms and pennies for the complainants.

[hurricanefema]

Mississippi State Senator Billy Hewes III wants to send surplus TOXICFEMA trailers that are currently stored in Mississippi to Haiti. See Sun Heard story. http://www.sunherald.com/218/story/1872201.html?mi_pluck_action=comment_submitted&qwxq=1636370#Comments_Container (http://www.sunherald.com/218/story/1872201.html?mi_pluck_action=comment_submitted&qwxq=1636370)
Please find comments to the above story below, and you judge. What a thoughtless & disdain plan! This is not surprising coming from a Mississippi Coast politician who did nothing to protect his constituents from the hidden dangers of formaldehyde in FEMA funded housing. The plan echoes right winged views on controlling diversity. The British gave smallpox blankets to native Americans, FEMA leased toxic trailers to Gulf Coast hurricane survivors, FEMA even gave toxic trailers to native Americans. Is Senator Hewes’ plan to provide toxic housing to Haitians a Humanitarian Act? I don’t think so, the plan would be very profitable to the Port, some Mississippi politicians and some cronies; but would be very unhealthy for the Haitian disaster survivors. People always suffer in profit over people schemes . The GSA has halted FEMA housing auction sales due to cries from the RV industry and the potential of health related issues within these units. The Government and the formaldehyde industry have long (over twenty 20 years) been aware of dangers of formaldehyde hidden in building products. The industry has managed to keep the public/media ignorant by simply keeping the law makers happy. In 2005, hurricane survivors discovered that hundreds of thousands occupants of FEMA trailers and/or mobile homes were being exposed and/or suffering from dangerous levels of formaldehyde. FEMA knew the occupants were suffering but ignored the issue as they feared ownership of the problem. In April 2007, a CDC whistle blower’s action forced FEMA/CDC to disclose that fact that FEMA housing was not safe. This sparked thousands of law suits against FEMA, the trailer manufacturers and the contractors who handled the toxic trailers. It is the general opinion that majority of long term occupants of FEMA trailers were the poor, sick, injured and/or Democrats or non-voters. Mississippi has over 5000 litigants who claim to have been injured from exposure to FEMA trailers. Another Louisiana native, Senator David Vitter aka; David Duke Vitter; Diaper Dave; The Formaldehyde Senator, is leading the charge to aid the Formaldehyde Council to block the EPA effort to finally establish formaldehyde regulations to protect the public. Formaldehyde politics could even be making it difficult for FEMA toxic trailers victims to get fair day in court. Any negative verdicts for defendants could be very costly for Senator’s cronies and campaign donors, as well as, the Formaldehyde council. Some will do almost anything to protect that interest. By some less than Devine means, the Fate of the Toxic FEMA trailer litigants is in the hands of Vitter’s very, very best friend and former campaign finance manager; the presiding judge.

[Americano]

Those good old boy RV and trailer manufacturers and their subs understandably want FEMA trailers scrapped to hopefully build some new ones in a really, really bad market. As if some destitute family in Haiti would close the windows in Haiti's climate and trap formaldehyde fumes.