Comments on: FEMA To Step Up Toxic Trailer Relocations

U.S. Health Officials Say Possibly High Levels Of Formaldehyde Found In 35,000 Trailers

[olebd]

I have a travel trailer I bought brand new in 2004. For the first couple years when I would enter it after being closed up in the hot sun, my eyes would burn and my throat would get irritated. But when I opened the 3 roof vents and a couple windows within 10 minutes it would clear up. The past two years, I haven''t noticed the problem at all. I was told it was caused by the wood curing which contains the formaldahyde. I didn''t experience any respitory problems. Mainly burning eyes.

[three-o-six]

formaldehyde *** It is also a byproduct of burning alcohol in an internal combustion engine. See EPA report.

[puzzler125]

I haven''t heard a single word or comment about the general population who buys trailers. Maybe it is assumed that vacationing in a formaldehyde-laden trailer doesn''t expose people to an amount that would cause respiratory or other health problems? In the meantime I suggest that a certified agency look into the usage of formaldehyde usage in any trailers, not just the ones FEMA purchases and uses.

[klingon69]

Maybe he did what he could. They must like him for some reason to vote him in again.
Posted by Displeased at 05:07 PM : Feb 14, 2008
Yeah, he''s trying for his "chocolate city". What can you expect when even the police were guilty of looting during and immediately after Katrina?

[klingon69]

Have any of you that are angry about freeloaders actually come to New Orleans? I''''d like to see what happens when your town is 70% underwater and the jobs go away and the rents go up. It''''s a matter of simple math. Minimum wage does not even so much as support a rented room, much less an apartment. Carpet baggers are running unchecked. But even decent landlords are forced to raise rents because of the surge in insurance rates. I''''m not saying the poor can''''t do their part but there are a lot of factors at work here and a lot of people to hold accountable. It''''s just cruel and ignorant and far too easy to blame those with the least amount of power.
Posted by redminerva at 04:39 PM : Feb 14, 2008
And, who forced them to live in a swampy, silt island that is below sea-level???
What is keeping them there(besides the govt checks and handouts). Generosity only goes so far. When people start to abuse and whine about it, TAXPAYERS get tired.

[mcvet]

New Orleans voted for Mayor Ray Nagan...again. He didn''''t do anything before and certainly hasn''''t done anything after Katrina - no pity.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by zoe2006 at 05:02 PM : Feb 14, 2008
+ report abuse

Now let me see here. Because YOU think Mr. Nagan did NOTHING, you have the right to decide he shouldn''t be the Mayor? I noticed you NEVER mentioned all the LIES and broken promises of that piece of HUMAN TRASH a few, and I do mean a few, still call a President. I''d say THAT''s a LOT worse than anything the Mayor may or may not have done. Wouldn''t you swastika breath??? Sieg Heil Bush!!

[displeased]

He didn''''t do anything before and certainly hasn''''t done anything after Katrina - no pity.
Posted by zoe2006

Maybe he did what he could. They must like him for some reason to vote him in again.

[redminerva]

Have any of you that are angry about freeloaders actually come to New Orleans? I''d like to see what happens when your town is 80% underwater and the jobs go away and the rents go up. It''s a matter of simple math. Minimum wage does not even so much as support a rented room, much less an apartment. Carpet baggers are running unchecked. But even decent landlords are forced to raise rents because of the surge in insurance rates. I''m not saying the poor can''t do their part but there are a lot of factors at work here and a lot of people to hold accountable. It''s just cruel and ignorant and far too easy to blame those with the least amount of power.

[redminerva]

Have any of you that are angry about freeloaders actually come to New Orleans? I''d like to see what happens when your town is 80% underwater and the jobs go away and the rents go up. It''s a matter of simple math. Minimum wage does not even so much as support a rented room, much less an apartment. Carpet baggers are running unchecked. But even decent landlords are forced to raise rents because of the surge in insurance rates. I''m not saying the poor can''t do their part but there are a lot of factors at work here and a lot of people to hold accountable. It''s just cruel and ignorant and far too easy to blame those with the least amount of power.

[redminerva]

Have any of you that are angry about freeloaders actually come to New Orleans? I''d like to see what happens when your town is 70% underwater and the jobs go away and the rents go up. It''s a matter of simple math. Minimum wage does not even so much as support a rented room, much less an apartment. Carpet baggers are running unchecked. But even decent landlords are forced to raise rents because of the surge in insurance rates. I''m not saying the poor can''t do their part but there are a lot of factors at work here and a lot of people to hold accountable. It''s just cruel and ignorant and far too easy to blame those with the least amount of power.

[redminerva]

Have any of you that are angry about freeloaders actually come to New Orleans? I''d like to see what happens when your town is 70% underwater and the jobs go away and the rents go up. It''s a matter of simple math. Minimum wage does not even so much as support a rented room, much less an apartment. Carpet baggers are running unchecked. But even decent landlords are forced to raise rents because of the surge in insurance rates. I''m not saying the poor can''t do their part but there are a lot of factors at work here and a lot of people to hold accountable. It''s just cruel and ignorant and far too easy to blame those with the least amount of power.

[redminerva]

Have any of you that are angry about freeloaders actually come to New Orleans? I''d like to see what happens when your town is 70% underwater and the jobs go away and the rents go up. It''s a matter of simple math. Minimum wage does not even so much as support a rented room, much less an apartment. Carpet baggers are running unchecked. But even decent landlords are forced to raise rents because of the surge in insurance rates. I''m not saying the poor can''t do their part but there are a lot of factors at work here and a lot of people to hold accountable. It''s just cruel and ignorant and far too easy to blame those with the least amount of power.

[candide777]

As a taxpayer I am outraged!
Posted by easeup at 04:15 PM : Feb 14, 2008

Hey, hey, ease up there, fella.

[mbcsmith]

Boot them out or charge them rent. why do LIBS think the govenment owes them something.

[james20082]

CON''T

Trailers like the ones bought by FEMA are not designed to be raised off the ground, yet throughout hurricane-stricken areas, they are blocked up 3 feet high or more, lifted into place with scissor jacks and mounted on cinder blocks. Raising an RV that high can bend the frame and damage the structural integrity of the trailer, causing walls to buckle, water lines to loosen or break, and roofs to fail. Scissor jack instructions commonly warn consumers of such risks. One manufacturer''s instruction sheet reads, "trailers are not designed to be lifted off the ground" and further warns, "Raising the corners or extreme ends of the trailer to excessive heights can cause damage to the trailer." Despite this readily available information, many contractors raised trailers so high that outer wall damage can be detected with the naked eye.
Once the integrity of the outer shell is compromised, and if they are not properly caulked to alleviate the problem, rain can easily leak into a raised trailer. Even if the unit doesn''t leak, inexperienced installers can inadvertently leave water lines loose or crimp hoses, which can lead to leaks inside the walls of a trailer. Wet construction materials will then break down, causing mold to grow inside the walls. Formaldehyde-treated wood products can then emit toxic fumes all over again.

[james20082]

FEMA''s Formaldehyde Foibles

By Matt Robinson


Formaldehyde is a water-soluble industrial chemical that emits fumes when wet, but when properly dried and cured, it poses little threat. Heat and moisture reactivate the dried substance and can cause it to emit fumes again, however. If a trailer leaks water during spring and summer rainstorms, occupants may face a higher risk of formaldehyde exposure after the rain stops and the sun heats up the units.
Many occupants report that trailer leakage is a common problem. (Check out this Youtube clip from a Kenner trailer occupant: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-Fy7c_V-zs). It has been documented that many FEMA contractors who set up the temporary housing units lacked experience with travel trailers, particularly the propane systems that power many RV appliances. If contractor ignorance extends to the installation of trailer bodies themselves, then these contractors may be partially responsible for the leaks and the subsequent spike in formaldehyde levels.

[easeup-2009]

"Amen, sister Christian! That''''s what Jesus would do! F ''''em!

Posted by singinprick at 04:05 PM : Feb 14, 2008"

How long, singinprick?? How long does someone get a free ride?? Forever?? 2 1/2 years is AMPLE time to find somewhere to live. As a taxpayer I am outraged!

[catlynlawson]

its been how many years since Katrina? they STILL arent able to find jobs and find housing? or are the still blaming Bush for being "racist" and not giving them a free ride??

[james20082]

Your Name:
Wanda Phillips
Your Email:
[e-mail]
Your Address:
247 Purvis To Brooklyn Road
Your City:
Purvis
Your State:
Mississippi
Your Zip:
39475
Your Phone:
601-543-9543

Suspected Violation Date:
08/25/2005
Suspected Violator Name:
FEMA
Suspected Violator Address:
246 Purvis To Brooklyn Road
Suspected Violator City:
Purvis
Suspected Violator State:
Mississippi
Suspected Violator Zip:
39475

Still Occurring:
yes
Notified State DEP/DEQ/DEM:
yes
Characterized incident as:
Intent:
Intentional
Type:
Falsified
Media:
Air
Entity:
Government/Military

Description of incident or hazard:
FEMA knowingly his the fact that the FEMA trailer have high levels of formaldehyde in them. There are 7 to 10,000 of these trailers in front of my house. In the summertime I can smell thes trailers on my front porch. I can also see the mold on the outside of these trailers. They are dismantling some of them and leaving the raw materials exposed to the elements allowing toxins to be released. FEMA also ran multiple generators in front of my house for nearly two years releasing toxins from the diesel motors. I have a three month old,a 4 year old and a five year old at my house. http://oversight.house.gov/story.asp?ID=1751

[hungry1968]

It''s been 2-1/2 years now. How much more of a free ride are these people expecting? If I got to live in a trailer mortgage and rent free for 2-1/2 years, I would have tens of thousands of dollars saved up.

Kick these free loaders out!!