FEMA To Step Up Toxic Trailer Relocations

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

(CBS/AP)  The Federal Emergency Management Agency said Thursday it will step up efforts to move Gulf Coast hurricane victims out of more than 35,000 trailers because tests indicate some of the temporary homes contain high levels of formaldehyde.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said fumes from 519 tested trailer and mobile homes in Louisiana and Mississippi were - on average - about five times what people are exposed to in most modern homes.

CBS News national correspondent Byron Pitts reports that even before results were released today, two Congressional committees had already announced new investigations into FEMA and the trailer manufacturers.

CBS News chief investigative correspondent Armen Keteyian first reported the health risks from the trailers last May.

FEMA Administrator R. David Paulison and CDC Director Dr. Julie Gerberding said at a news conference they hope to get people out of the trailers before the warm summer months, when heat and a lack of ventilation in the trailers could make formaldehyde accumulations worse.

"The real issue is not what it will cost but how fast we can move people out," Paulison said.

Gerberding said that although formaldehyde levels were low in some trailers, others were high enough to cause breathing problems for children, the elderly or people who already have respiratory problems.

About 5 percent had levels high enough to cause breathing problems even in people who do not ordinarily have respiratory trouble, Gerberding said.

Trailer occupants will be moved to apartments or hotels. If necessary sturdier mobile homes - pre-tested for formaldehyde - will be used, he said.

Even as it began a rush to move out thousands of victims of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, FEMA said it is sticking with plans to distribute mobile homes to victims of recent tornadoes. Thousands of FEMA trailers were intended for hurricane victims but have sat vacant at the Hope, Arkansas, airport.

Paulison said workers would air out mobile homes at Hope for up to two weeks and later test them. "We're not going to give somebody a mobile home that tested high for formaldehyde," he said.

In Louisiana, there are 25,162 occupied FEMA trailers. In Mississippi, there are 10,362, according to FEMA figures. Other states also have hundreds of trailers. At one time, FEMA had placed victims of the 2005 hurricanes in more than 144,000 trailers and mobile homes.

Paulison also said FEMA will never again use travel trailers to house disaster victims but may continue to use larger, better constructed mobile homes.

Commonly used in manufactured homes, formaldehyde can cause respiratory problems and has been classified as a carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer and as a probable carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The CDC said the levels of formaldehyde varied widely, and that some trailers had low levels. Others, however, had levels high enough to cause burning eyes and breathing problems for people who have asthma or sensitivity to air pollutants, said Mike McGeehin, director of a CDC division that focuses on environmental hazards.

"Am I angry at FEMA? Of course I am," Lynette Hooks, 48, said as she sat in her trailer near her still-damaged house in New Orleans. "They should have started moving people out of these trailers once they first started finding problems."

A former nursing assistant now on disability, she has been living in a cramped FEMA trailer next to her flood-ravaged house since October 2006, sharing it with her teenage son, 21-year-old daughter and the daughter's 9-month-old son.

Her tiny trailer is falling apart. Bed frames have dislodged from the superstructure and the door barely opens. Roaches climbed up a nearby wall as she spoke.

Hooks said that since she began living in the trailer, she has experienced headaches and sinus problems, in addition to the asthma she had before.

Roger Sheldon, 60, said in a telephone interview from Pascagoula, Miss., that he has noticed some symptoms, including eye irritation, since moving into the FEMA trailer placed on his property in Pascagoula, one of several Mississippi coast cities slammed by Katrina.

"It seems like I have had more respiratory problems since I have been in the trailer," he said Thursday. But he was not ready to blame formaldehyde for his problems. "You know you can walk into any new trailer, or house for that matter, and things like new carpet can cause irritation."

Sheldon said he was concerned with findings of toxic levels of formaldehyde fumes in the trailers but not overly alarmed.

"To be honest, I'm thankful to the government. I don't like the trailer but it beats the alternative for now."

With housing still in short supply - 80 percent of New Orleans was flooded, the pace of rebuilding has been slow, and rents are out of reach for many - Ernest Penns said he was grateful for his trailer.

"I got nowhere else to go," said Penns, whose nearby home in New Orleans' Lower 9th Ward was still a shambles.

[olebd]

These things are like every other travel trailer/fifth wheel on the market. Are they going to buy back all RV''s sold? Open the windows and air the things out. These trailers are not built to live in for extended periods of time. Mold growth becomes a potential problem after a couple weeks if you don''t take precautionary steps to prevent it.

[cbs_oliver]

"CBS News chief investigative correspondent Armen Keteyian first reported the health risks from the trailers last May."

Good work.

[mcv57]

You folks should forget about CBS. They are too control by the bushwacker.

See: http://www.globalincidentmap.com/home.php

[jdubs63]

OH PLEASE... ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

[antoniof123]

Last May, FEMA officials dismissed findings by environmentalists that the trailers posed serious health risks. They said the trailers conformed to industry standards.

Legislators also said the CDC ignored research from - and then demoted - one of its own experts, who concluded any level of exposure to formaldehyde may pose a cancer risk. A CDC spokesman has denied the allegations.

Why does this sound like something our government would allow to happen. I mean one group says wait a minute but it is not a big business group lobbing.

Now law suite happen a judge orders it and congress has to step in. What is wrong with the CDC and FEMA or is it them?

[dbstevens]

Originally people were supposed to live in these things for 18 months, then it was extended. Now it''s open-ended. I know many people need extended help (I''m a Katrina evacuee myself). But these trailers were never intended for people to live in permanently. I''ve been in these trailer parks (the large one in Baker, La). I''d never want to live there on a long-term basis anyway. There''s a bit of an element of people just not wanting to stand on their own two feet. Maybe this will encourage them to improve their situation and not sit around wanting to be totally taken care of.

[displeased]

Legislators also said the CDC ignored research from - and then demoted - one of its own experts, who concluded any level of exposure to formaldehyde may pose a cancer risk.
Posted by antoniof123

Sounds similar to Bush ignoring cabinet members about the repercussions with invading Iraq. Isn''t the purpose of advisory experts to prevent people from doing stupid things?

[inventagod]

''RAPID''???

yeah.... riiiight...

buSHAMErica

[gunownerdan]

Are these trailers made in China?

[michellem99-2009]

Look at it. How can ye stand on yer 2 feet with nothing..no skills.yer poor. Poorly schooled..When greed is the rule..rents are more than the poor can afford, JOBS not here..illegals every where. Now they are to hit the streets again..Money talks and bs walks ever heard it.

[walt1944-2009]

The US Health Dept has discovered something that people have known since Katrina hit the Gulf: that there are TOXIC levels of formaldehyde in FEMA trailers that are still being used by FEMA today!

However, the Great Emperor Bush is not overly concerned about the situation since it affects only the "under-privileged" of the USSA and does not affect either the profits of corporate America or the wealthy. The military, however, is extremely interested in that there is the possibility that these trailers could be shipped over to Iraq and Afghanistan and be used as a "COVERT" weapon against those nasty "insurrrrrrgents" and other dissident Arabs who refuse to accept the rule of the Great Emperor Bush II!

SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!!

[underdogus]

You folks should forget about CBS. They are too control by the bushwacker.

Posted by mcv57 ..REALLY?? try Al-jazeerah network..

[marybethinct]

Am I the only one throwing my hands up in the air and saying......are you kidding me!!
What the he--ll, how long are we supposed to support this lazy trash. get A Job!!! Get you''re life in order and stop draining my taxes!!

[b-easy63]

Yeah. Another article that just came out says that FEMA will be issuing those same kinds of trailers to be used for the recent tornado victims. They said they conformed to industry standards--as if that means anything. They also said that despite levels being very high and causing respiratory problems in those already in them, they will issue the others and "safety processes " will be put in place.

The trailers are poisoned, about the only safety processes the government will put in place are disclaimers so those who use them and later die give up the right for survivors or their heirs to sue. If they are moving people out right and left--why are they insisting on using the same death traps for others?

Or are they moving them out, because they have a new set of victims they''d like to experiment on?

[killtheliars]

let''s donate them to Mexico and have them set them up south of the U.S. border. Then we can promise all the illegals we capture and send back a nice almost new trailer when they get home, where they belong.

[david1737]

The GOP believes that government doesn''t work. They set out to prove this theory and have proven it time after time!

The GOP drained programs such as FEMA of funding, and appointed cronies at the highest levels. They then point the finger and claim "see these big government programs don''t work."

Here''s a good example:

If you let me try to launch the Space Shuttle I''ll prove it doesn''t work too.

[tvgenius]

Frankly, I don''t understand why people are still in FEMA trailers. It''s been two and a half years. How long are they allowed to freeload in them?

[netadmin1-2009]

Probably could find some forclosed homes to give em - or perhaps several million dollar homes could be built for housing.

[bogusbones]

imagine that will you? some bush campaign contributor gets the gazillion dollar contract for these low rent, over priced trailers and they aren''t safe for people to live in. let''s investigate this fiasco. by the way, when these people get sick and need medical attention, guess what? no insurance, no help. man am i happy i''m being looked over by such a concerned government.

[aeasus]

Shouldn''t there be a class action suite for everyone who lived in a trailer? fema or not

[dgevans2001]

Where is the investigation in the lumber company that manufactured the wood and trailer companies for the use of the wood for the reason the levels are so high to begin with? I agree the freeloaders need to get a job and move on, and the trailers sent back to the manufactuer for health defects, but where is there faults being looked into? How much of the same wood is being used to built real foundation home. There needs to be more training and schooling avaliable to the freeloaders, and they need to move on, not live off the GOV teets for the rest of there lives, so they say I''m disabled, I''m 45% disabled myself and hold a 50 hour a week job. They system adminisrators need to just try tough love and send them on there way.

[brianp55]

I seriously doubt that there is anything wrong or substandard about the construction of these trailers. Trailers are NOT intended for long-term habitation and they present a very small internal air volume. I think that if someone gave me a trailer to live in, essentially free of charge, I might consider ventilating it by opening the windows, installing a draw fan, etc. On the other hand, maybe they''re holding out for a new Section 8 home.

[luvcomments]

So, this is news? Have been warning people for decades about all the formaldehyde in mobile homes, offices, furnishings, carpets - you name it. Probably in cars, too. What''s worse, apparently the imported products containing formaldehyde aren''t subject to the same limits as are US formaldehyde-containing products. Now, do you really suppose our intelligent govt high-up staff members didn''t know of this when they hauled in all those mobiles? Then, again, I don''t know what kind of knowledge tests they have to pass - I''m not talking about the Administration, of course - we all know they don''t have to.

[nothappyatall]

They also sold some of these trailers at public auction...
But I love the directive to vacate ASAP, whats the hurry, the people have been in them for 2-1/2 YEARS, another few months wont make a bit of difference.

[lawyertom1]

Let us not forget the origin of the trailers. It was a company in Alaska headed by folks that were major contributors to the Shrub and Republicans.

[james20082]

IT IS ASHAME THAT FEMA KNOWNING HAS FORMALDEHYDE FREE AND MOLD RESITANT TRAILERS AVAILABLE TO THEM SINCE NOV. 07'' AND DID NOTHING TO GET THE PEOPLE OUT. THEY SHOULD ALREADY KNOW THAT THE KATRINA COTTAGES ALSO HAVE FORMALDEHYDE IN THEM AS WELL. THE FORMALDEHYDE FREE TRAILERS ARE ONLY $1,250.00 MORE THAN THEY PURCHASED THE REGULAR TRAILERS FOR. IF FEMA CARED ABOUT THE AMERICAN TAX DOLLARS THEY WOULD KNOW THAT THE KATRINA COTTAGES COST AN AVERAGE OF $75,000 EACH INSTALLED. THE FEMA TRAILERS WERE OFFERED TO FEMA IN 05'' FOR $14,000 THROUGH $16,000 EACH DELIEVERED TO THE STAGING AREAS. FEMA CONTACTED THE RV DEALERS AND TOLD THEM THAT THE PRICE OF 14-16 THOUSAND WAS TO LOW AND THAT THEY CAN ONLY PURCHASE THEM FOR $20,000 EACH. EVERYONE NEEDS TO ALSO KNOW THAT THREE OUT OF FOUR PROPERTIES THAT ARE STORING THE FEMA EMERGENCY HOUSING IN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI MIGHT BE OWNED BY A MISSISSIPPI STATE SENATOR AND MIGHT HAVE RECEIVED IT FROM THE GOVERNOR OF THAT STATE.

[random_radar]

The Nazis had the gas chambers and FEMA had the toxic trailers. Its all government sponsored genocide.

[Syndicate]

People seem to be obsessing over this. People who were in the hurricane who were given trailers are being warned, but what about the other few million americans who live in trailers by choice? Are they at risk also? Does anybody care about them? Perhaps their is no way to bash Bush with them so they are ignored.

[james20082]

THIS IS A DOCUMENT THAT WAS FILED AS A COMPLAINT THAT THE FORMALDEHYDE HAS GONE AIRBORN AND IT IS THE STAGING AREA IN MISSISSIPPI. THE FORMALDEHYDE WHICH IS A LIQUID BASE CHEMICAL ACCORDING TO THE AUSTRIALIAN GOVERNMENT SHOULD DRY WITH IN TWO MONTHS. SINCE THE FORMALDEHYDE HAS STAYED FOR LONGER I SUGGEST THAT FEMA LOOKS AT THE CONTRACTORS THAT REPAIR HOMES AND HAVE NEVER BEEN INSIDE OF A TRAILER BEFORE KATRINA. BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS TO A LIQUID BASE CHEMICAL WHEN IT REMAINS WET. YOU GET THE SAME AFFECT AS IF IT WAS JUST INSTALLED. NO PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE WAS EVER DONE ON THESE UNITS AND BY BLOCKING THEM INTO THE AIR FEMA CAUSED THESE TRAILERS TO LEAK AND BY LEAKING THE MOISTURE IN THE AIR CAUSE THE FORMALDEHYDE TO SUBSTAIN ITSELF. THANK YOU FEMA.

[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!!

[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

[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??

[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!

[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.

[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.

[mbcsmith]

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

[candide777]

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

Hey, hey, ease up there, fella.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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!!

[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.

[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?

[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.

[three-o-six]

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

[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.

[gastrap]

I fail to understand why 3 years later, the people living in these FEMA trailers they hate so much, why don''t they move out of these trailers? I know that the jobs were wiped out and rent has gone up, but hey you can move to cities where there is work and the rent is not as high. The work out there may not b the job you want, but I promise " IF " you are willing to roll up your sleeves and put some sweat and elbow grease into finding a job, you will. You are not chained down to these trailres I promise.