Manufactured Home News and Views: FEMA Attests To Importance of Manufactured Housing During Declared Disasters
Following President Obama’s disaster declaration in the state of Louisiana, the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced in a news release that disaster assistance has been made available to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe storms and flooding that began March 8, 2016.
Manufactured housing often plays a significant role following declared disasters in the U.S. and will most likely benefit the many homeless survivors of Louisiana’s recent devastation. Prefabricated homes are not necessarily utilized in every disaster situation, but are often deployed by FEMA when the need for immediate housing pops up throughout the country.
Manufactured housing units have been deployed on the front line of declared disasters for decades, including the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, Hurricane Sandy, along the Jersey Shore and most recently in California. Providing a quality built housing solution for the many survivors of the Butte and Valley fires that raged throughout California’s gold country late last summer.
FEMA confirms the importance of manufactured homes in a new post titled, “The New and Improved Trailer,” authored by Jessica Stapf.
Manufactured Home News and Views: FEMA Attests To Importance of Manufactured Housing During Declared Disasters
Following is an excerpt from that blog:
“When disasters impact communities across the country, the people affected by them can lose anything and often lose everything. It’s a trying time for many of them, who may not even have a home to go back to or a place to call their own.
There can be multiple solutions to this problem. Some survivors can go stay with friends or family members. Some survivors are eligible to receive rental assistance. Some survivors are placed into manufactured housing units–when there’s no other place for them to go.
I can hear the questions now.
“But, wait. Aren’t you talking about those FEMA trailers?”
Not exactly. These are manufactured housing units. These are designed to support the real world, longer- term needs of disaster survivors after a disaster and are equipped with new features designed to promote safety and accessibility, including residential sprinklers and accommodations for survivors with access and functional needs. Unlike many of the mobile homes we’ve relied on in the past, this next generation of temporary housing meets the rigid standards created by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. And they’re built to house survivors much longer than previous used after disasters too – an important consideration because rebuilding can take months or even years, According to Administrator Fugate, the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s temporary and manufacturing housing standards are the “gold standard.” And it’s true. Between the two agencies, there’s a common goal of making sure people and their property are safe and so through looking at all of the standards out there, we’ve found that those from the Department of Housing and Urban Development standards fit our needs best.”
Our hearts and prayers go out to the good citizens of Louisiana affected by the disaster.
Individuals and business owners who have losses in the designated area of Louisiana can begin applying for assistance as of March 14, 2016 by registering on line at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, or by calling 1-800 621-FEMA (3362). The toll free telephone numbers will operate from 7 A.M. to 10 P.M (Local Time), seven days a week until further notice.
(Note: FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.)
(Photo Courtesy of FEMA.gov)
