Observer: After the floods: trailer parks for a million (Bushtowns)

[grytpype]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/katrina/story/0,16441,1572244,00.html

This is going to be a disaster. Thousands of Bushtowns all over the South.

After the floods: trailer parks for a million

Jamie Wilson Baker, Louisiana
Saturday September 17, 2005
The Guardian

It is being called the biggest federal housing programme in United States history, a plan to build up to 300,000 temporary homes for nearly a million people flooded out by Hurricane Katrina. All along the Gulf Coast contractors are constructing huge trailer parks. The scale of the enterprise dwarfs both the rebuilding of Chicago after the great fire of 1871 and San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake.

Planners and officials are worried about the long-term ramifications if people are stuck in temporary accommodation for years. "We have never had to deal with anything like this in US history," said Ruth Steiner, an associate professor at the department of urban and regional planning at Florida University. "They are looking at trying to house more than a million people, so you are basically dealing with trying to build multiple cities."

On the outskirts of Baker, east of Baton Rouge, contractors have less than two weeks to turn 60 acres of prairie into a town for several thousand people. While bulldozers dig drainage ditches, men in fluorescent waistcoats use orange flags to show where 600 trailers will be, along with a network of limestone roads, parking areas and sewage treatment facilities.

The park is one of many. Emergency officials are mapping out new towns made up of as many as 25,000 mobile homes. The plan is to open 30,000 new homes every two weeks. Stores, restaurants and other facilities will come later, but the priority is getting people out of shelters and under their own roofs.

(more at link)

If you want to know why this is going to be a disaster, read this article on "FEMA City"...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/16/AR2005091601922.html

Hurricane Charley Victims
FEMA's City of Anxiety in Florida
Many Hurricane Charley Victims Still Unsure of Next Step

By Marc Kaufman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, September 17, 2005; Page A01

...

Forman's place is FEMA City, a dusty, baking, treeless collection of almost 500 trailers that was set up by the federal emergency agency last fall to house more than 1,500 people made homeless by Hurricane Charley, one of the most destructive storms in recent Florida history. The free shelter was welcomed by thankful survivors back then; almost a year later, most are still there -- angry, frustrated, depressed and increasingly desperate.

"FEMA City is now a socioeconomic time bomb just waiting to blow up," said Bob Hebert, director of recovery for Charlotte County, where most FEMA City residents used to live. "You throw together all these very different people under already tremendous stress, and bad things will happen. And this is the really difficult part: In our county, there's no other place for many of them to go."

(more at link)

And that is after a year! There will be Bushtowns all over the South, just like FEMA City, for years and years.

[enid602]

1. stilts

Hope they put them on stilts.

[SmokingJacket]

3. No joke.

When I lived down there, trailers constantly got rolled over and washed away by flood waters.

[Pirate Smile]

2. WP did an article today on the trailer towns from Hurricane Charlie.

It doesn't look good.

FEMA's City of Anxiety in Florida
Many Hurricane Charley Victims Still Unsure of Next Step

By Marc Kaufman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, September 17, 2005; Page A01


About 1,500 people who lost their homes or were already homeless still live in a makeshift mobile home/trailer park run by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in Charlotte County, Fla., since Hurricane Charley struck last year. (By Marc S. Kaufman -- The Washington Post)

PUNTA GORDA, Fla. --

-snip-
Forman's place is FEMA City, a dusty, baking, treeless collection of almost 500 trailers that was set up by the federal emergency agency last fall to house more than 1,500 people made homeless by Hurricane Charley, one of the most destructive storms in recent Florida history. The free shelter was welcomed by thankful survivors back then; almost a year later, most are still there -- angry, frustrated, depressed and increasingly desperate.

"FEMA City is now a socioeconomic time bomb just waiting to blow up," said Bob Hebert, director of recovery for Charlotte County, where most FEMA City residents used to live. "You throw together all these very different people under already tremendous stress, and bad things will happen. And this is the really difficult part: In our county, there's no other place for many of them to go."

As government efforts move forward to relocate and house some of the 1 million people displaced by Hurricane Katrina along the Gulf Coast -- including plans to collect as many as 300,000 trailers and mobile homes for them -- officials here say their experience offers some harsh and sobering lessons about the difficulties ahead.

Most troubling, they said, is that while the badly damaged town of Punta Gorda is beginning to rebuild and even substantially upgrade one year after the storm, many of the area's most vulnerable people are being left badly behind.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/20...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=103&topic_id=157331&mesg_id=157331

[Delphinus]

29. They don't want them there!

These are not the people the town of Punta Gorda wants to attract - they're not rich, they're working class, etc. The commissioners want them to leave - that's why Punta Gorda experienced such a building boom after Charley. The investors coming in and flipping things so that it will cost a gazillion times more and these people who lost everything, living in FEMA city, will have to just go away.

[jwirr]

30. Truth is that the only way Government can help these people is

by rent controlled housing or very low cost building loans. The people in these areas do not want to help - especially the people in control and in the churches. What a pitiful end this country has come to.

[NashVegas]

4. These Contractors ...

I hope Habitat for Humanity can come through for people.

[...of J.Temperance]

7. Habitat for Humanity DO want to help and they WANT to help

Specifically within the state of Louisiana. I'd trust them more than I'd ever trust FEMA.

[silverojo]

10. Habitat For Humanity won't help

<<I hope Habitat for Humanity can come through for people.>>

Just read their web site to see all the hoops you have to jump through. They only build homes for people who have steady employment and good credit, and are able to donate time toward helping to build more homes. In other words, the elderly, disabled, and impoverished need not apply.

[jwirr]

18. Having worked on at least 4 Habitat Homes I

will agree with you to some extent. They do have requirements that prohibit many from getting homes but many of the people in hurricane areas have regular jobs that just do not pay much. As to donated time - that can come from family or friends. It is also defined very liberal when necessary - i.e. the family attends fundraisers, gives interviews, helps to paint the walls, etc. The credit rating thing is probably the worst part. It is getting so that an awful lot of us are going bankrupt lately.

I think there will be two big problems for them if they try to help: first getting money up front to buy building supplies and land with infrastructure. This could easily be taken care of by HUD if they are serious about helping the flood victims; second there is a need for experienced volunteers to build the houses. Inexperienced volunteers can do a lot to help but much in a home is of a technical nature and requires know-how. These same people will be in demand in the conventional building industry for those who can afford to pay for rebuilding. I do not think there will be enough volunteers. Even if our beloved Jimmy leads the team.

[FloridaPat]

5. FEMA has told mobile home manufacturers they are going to need

a lot of homes and they have priority. Others wanting homes will have to wait 9-12 months. Not here in Florida yet, but I heard it was coming soon. And since the hurricanes of 2004, there are few used mobile homes standing around. Somehow, I don't see the housing bubble bursting anytime soon here.

[...of J.Temperance]

6. Like the Hoovervilles, we ALWAYS knew there would be Bushvilles

And like with Herbert Hoover, when we're FINALLY rid of the curse of George W. Bush...the name Bush will be ABSOLUTE poison at the polls.

What the GOP don't actually understand, is that Junior is destroying the Republican Party...and one day when WE'RE back in charge, we'll be back in charge for 20-25 years.

After Junior, the GOP will have to wait a generation, perhaps longer, to EVER be trusted by the people to lead a government again. Our Presidential candidate for decades to come can use Junior's name and the people will automatically vote for OUR candidate. Our candidates can FOREVER more just say:

"Hey do you remember George W. Bush? Do you remember the last time the Republicans were in charge of the government? Can you really AFFORD to trust them again?"

And, with those few simple lines, we'll have 20-25 years of Democratic rule under a Democratic administration...JUST like what happened with Herbert Hoover and the GOP being out of power for 20 years.

[Up2Late]

8. Nice Dream, I hope your right.

[...of J.Temperance]

17. Gosh so do I, for everyone's sake and for future generations sake n/t

[bobbieinok]

24. M$M 24/7 attacks vs democrats AND diebold voting

suuuure we may win.......but only if corporations like the candidate

[gimama]

26. www.bushville.org

I love campin'..YOU?!
Visualize IMPEACHMENT!

[medeak]

9. friend is there placing people in RV's and said

he can't believe how thrilled people are with accomodations.. most of the kids have never even had a tv.

He's loving it (gay attorney who volunteered to escape DC) and said it's the most rewarding thing he's ever done and he's done many humanitarian efforts.

Don't think many of these people will be complaining how long they have to stay in trailers.

[Wrinkle_In_Time]

11. I'm sure they are grateful now...

...but how will they feel in a year's time?

Don't think many of these people will be complaining how long they have to stay in trailers.

I don't think you understood the original post.

[medeak]

13. from what he said

these people are so terribly poor that a trailer city is like the taj mahal..

that's what I was getting at.

Unfortunately I couldn't read entire article...said it was no longer available. :-(

[Wrinkle_In_Time]

16. The original post has excerpts...

... from both links that summarize the issue. I don't know why you are finding that the "entire article" is "no longer available", all the links work for me. Please try these:
The original post
The Guardian post about the current Katrina emergency housing
The WaPo post about Hurricane Charley victims one year later

I'm sure that these people are very, very grateful to have shelter right now. The WaPo Charley story implies that they will not feel the same way in one year's time when they are still stuck in emergency shelter.

There are also several stories around about how the rebuilt New Orleans will likely exclude some of these people.

[shamanstar]

12. sounds like barbara bush

you dont think they will be complaining? i think that sounds an awful lot like barabara bushs recent statement about how these people are just thrilled and have it so great now in texas.

[medeak]

15. he's a total dem.... and very liberal

and shocked at the poverty

edited to say he grew up in poverty and still has enormous school loans after 20 years...

[jwirr]

19. According to the Florida FEMA City article

they limit the time they can stay in these trailers. The people there have been told they have to be out by Feb. and there is not place for the poorer ones to go.

[Petrushka]

23. FEMA "temporary housing" means . . . ? ? ? . . .

. . . "According to FEMA guidelines, temporary housing from the federal agency is only available for 18 months after the disaster declaration date. In West Virginia, the disaster was declared on Sept. 20, 2004.

" 'After 18 months, people in FEMA trailers get evicted,' said Angela Niven, case supervisor for the Northern Panhandle Long Term Recovery Committee. "They have to have a housing plan, and some people are just discovering that.'"

--from It's Home - For Now, published in The Intelligencer, September 17, 2005

http://www.news-register.net/news/story/0917202005_new1its.asp

[Up2Late]

20. You should hear what some of the1000 folks that are still in FEMA Trailers

from Hurricane Charlie, more than a year later say.

Last weeks show from Chicago Public Radio show "This American Life" that I have links to below. It's in RealAudio.

If you go to 50:40 (50 minutes 40 seconds) you can hear what it really like to be in Poor and in a FEMA trailer.

Also, if you want to hear Fox "news" bonehead Bill O'Riely blaming the poor people for being too poor to evacuate, and an 18 year old girls reaction to his statement, go to approx 40:00 min.

This whole show is really good. The whole show runs 58 min. 59 sec.

After the Flood

RealAudio Click Here

Surprising stories from survivors of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. A woman who was at the convention center talks about some things she says were widely misreported and misunderstood. Two people explain how armed police from Gretna actually prevented them from leaving New Orleans at the height of the crisis. A teenager talks about what it actually feels like to go without water for two days. And more.

One of the teenagers interviewed in "After the Flood," Ashley Nelson, is the author of an amazing book called The Combination, about her neighborhood in New Orleans. All the copies that were available are now underwater. But The Neighborhood Stories Project, which collaborated with Ashley and several other New Orleans teenagers on books about their neighborhoods, plans to print another run as soon as possible.
<http://www.thislife.org/>

[TheCowsCameHome]

14. 1600 acre wasteland in Crawford, Texas would be a good start.

Step up to the plate, W.

[ShockediSay]

21. Stop & think. Who's going to pocket the pork?

And who is raiding the social security trust fund cause the filthy rich won't pay a dime.

[daleo]

22. They sound like refugee camps

And we know how unsucessful those tend to be.

[jwirr]

31. I would say that they are the same as international displaced

persons camps. Only thing is that at least the international camps do not have a limitation for staying and the people in them are slowly trying to establish permanence. Here the bushies and their red state idiots will take all help away even though there has been no solution to the problem. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

[JackORoses]

25. Seems like we've been here before

*


A "Bushtown" in Baton Rouge - 2005

[krkaufman]

27. Predicting imminent doom, right here....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4807750&mesg_id=4808706

[Orrin_73]

28. They should call the parks Bushvilles

an ode to Hoovervilles from the time of the great depression.