Greensburg storm victims may face new risk

[proud2BlibKansan]

Trailers provided by FEMA contain unsafe levels of formaldehyde, critics say.
By JIM SULLINGER
The Kansas City Star

Federal officials have some advice for the homeless in Greensburg, Kan., who might be getting government trailers: Keep the windows open.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency said proper ventilation would keep formaldehyde emissions in a safe range.

The Sierra Club disagrees.

The environmental organization held a telephone news conference Thursday and urged anyone who lives in a FEMA trailer to check formaldehyde levels. It offered free testing kits to anyone in Greensburg who wants one.


http://www.kansascity.com/115/story/102643.html

[Gormy Cuss]

1. Let's hear it for the lowest bidder!

But at least W came by to hug them.
:sarcasm:

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. And he brought brown skinned people with him too!

[merh]

3. Get used to it

also have them check the refrigerators in the trailers.
Some of the refrigerators in the FEMA trailers in MS & LA had amonia leaks, some of the leaks caused fires, others caused illness.

Then there is the issue with the locks, some of the trailers were put together so quickly, they didn't take the time to rekey the locks and the keys to one trailer can open the doors to 100's of other trailers.

My advice to the folks of Greensburg, buy a few room air filters (I use the Orec) and several small fans, I don't use the propane stove and never have. I use the propane to heat the water in the tank and that is it.

Tell the folks to search the Mississippi & Louisiana news sources for tales of woe about those trailers.

Tin cans on wheels, but they are shelter, they are better than a tent, and better than the gym floor and something to call home.

The folks of the region remain in my prayers.

[merh]

4. some links

Dometic Recall Information

Dometic has voluntarily recalled a population of two-door refrigerators manufactured between April 1997 and May 2003. To find out if your refrigerator falls within the recall, enter the model number and 8-digit serial number of your Dometic refrigerator below.
http://dometicusa.com/recall.php


http://www.theind.com/news2.asp?CID=812113278

http://fematrailer.blogspot.com/2006_08_01_archive.html

They need to buy a spiral notebook and keep it with them each time they call and keep notes, that will save them so much frustration. You see with PTSD, you have issues with memory and mind "stability", dealing with FEMA irritates the issues, the stress and there will be times they think they are losing their minds.

Take it from me, they aren't - they are just losing their childish faith in the system.

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. Thank you merh

I will send this on to my friend whose family lost everything in Greensburg.

[Monkeyman]

8. Wow Tell Them To Take Care I hope they can get some of it back

[merh]

9. They are in my prayers

I know how they feel right now and I hope their regrowth is less complicated and quicker than ours has been.

:hi: :hug:

[youngdem]

5. If they are the same trailers as down here, you better find a plan B when winter comes

They had to open shelters here for the trailer people when 'winter' came here this year (New Orleans).

And it got down to 28.

So, you Kansans better find another solution. As expensive as the set up and trailers are (over $50K each in total including trailer, transport, site prep, pad, land rent, utilities, maintenance and security), they should just give everyone rental assistance in a nearby town if the homeowner wants to do that. IF they want a trailer to live at their home while they rebuild, that is ok too.

But be warned, the heaters are dangerous and inadequate here...In the depth of a Kansas winter storm, I would NOT want to be in one of these. They are tin cans with propane heaters and stoves, and you have to run the stove burners in addition to the heater if you want to stay warm below 35.

[merh]

11. Actually, I have never used the propane heater

I tried it once or twice and all it did was set off every alarm in the place. The smoke alarms, the methane alarm, it was maddening.

I bought a small electric ceramic heater and lots of covers. There were some cold winters (28 below) that getting out from under the covers was miserable.

The real challenge is bathing/showering. The little bitty hot water tanks barely hold enough to get wet. And that is just for one person.

The rental assistance is the best option to go with, we didn't have that many rental properties/apartments available (and still don't) so the trailers were are only options.

Oh, and buy one of those mattress toppers, those 3 or 4 inch foam rubber mattresses will ruin your back without one.

[SoCalDem]

13. Western Kansas gets some mighty cold temps in winter

It gets below zero there.. Those people need to be relocated to REAL housing before winter

[merh]

15. I couldn't agree with you more.

The trailers are an expensive, poor attempt to provide housing.

Tornado Alley is no place for trailers.

[Donnachaidh]

7. asthmatics need to stay AWAY from those trailers

They can be DEADLY for some.

[SoCalDem]

10. and in small towns like that there are always lots of elderly people

the young ones are the ones who tend to 'seek their fortunes" elsewhere.

Why not give each family the $50K, and watch them rebuild in a big hurry. Along with the insurance money they likely got, that 50K would go a long way towards making them whole again.

Trailers for people in tornado alley ...at the BEGINNING of tornado season does not seem all that smart anyway..

[Donnachaidh]

12. That's too practical -- gotta keep throwing our taxes at the trailer makers

Heaven FORBID they write decent checks for the needy. Makes too much sense.

[madokie]

14. I'm sure these are trailers that were intended for Katrina and Rita

survivors that for some reasons never made it that far down south.

[proud2BlibKansan]

16. Mobile homes in the middle of tornado alley

Sounds like a bush plan alright.