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More Than 35,000 Homes Are Affected

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 15, 2008

How many trailers are involved?

The Federal Emergency Management Agency says 25,162 trailers are occupied in Louisiana, 10,362 in Mississippi. The trailers were made by several companies. Some were made specially for FEMA.

What's the health risk?

Commonly used in manufactured homes, formaldehyde can cause respiratory problems and has been linked to cancer by the International Agency for Research on Cancer and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. CDC director Julie Gerberding said the test results can't be used to draw any conclusions about other mobile homes.

When did occupants first report health problems?

In 2006, some trailer occupants began reporting headaches and nosebleeds. Other reported difficulty breathing. Attorneys for hundreds of storm victims charge trailer makers produced inferior products in a rush to fill FEMA's demand for thousands of units. Several consolidated cases against trailer makers are before a U.S. District Court judge in New Orleans.

Why did it take so long to act?

Documents released in July after being subpoenaed by a congressional committee indicated FEMA lawyers discouraged officials from pursuing reports the trailers had dangerous levels of formaldehyde. At the time, Democrats and Republicans criticized FEMA for its limited inspections or tests of trailers whose occupants reported various respiratory problems. CDC testing began in December.

What's FEMA's process?

FEMA is trying to move trailer residents to apartments or other housing, including hotels, motels and small post-storm houses called "Katrina cottages." It's a multilevel process, like so many other recovery programs, and it is unclear how soon residents will be able to move. Priority will go to those who have health problems or are at risk, such as the elderly, households with young children and people with respiratory ailments.

I live in a FEMA trailer. What are my options?
FEMA staff is available to discuss housing concerns at 1-866-562-2381 or 1-800-621-3362. CDC specialists will respond to health concerns at 1-800-232-4636.

The Associated Press

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