People who survived Hurricane Katrina, the worst natural disaster in a century, then had to face the next challenge to their survival: the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Those who survived FEMA’s first round of incompetence in New Orleans were placed in travel trailers, many of which oozed formaldehyde, making them sick and killing at least one person. But FEMA lawyers stonewalled, preventing the agency from taking steps to mitigate the formaldehyde problem.
Formaldehyde, a wood preservative commonly used in particle board, can cause vision and respiratory problems, and has been linked to cancer, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
In 2006, FEMA relocated some families and began testing travel trailers after several Mississippi residents claimed that the formaldehyde in the trailers was making them sick. But documents released this week show that FEMA knew about the problem well beforehand, and the lawyers opposed testing.
On June 16, 2006, three months after reports of the hazards surfaced and a month after a trailer resident sued the agency, a FEMA logistics expert wrote that the agency’s Office of General Counsel “has advised that we do not do testing, which would imply FEMA’s ownership of this issue.” A FEMA lawyer, Patrick Preston, wrote on June 15: “Do not initiate any testing until we give the OK. . . . Once you get results and should they indicate some problem, the clock is running on our duty to respond to them.”
Committee Chairman Henry A. Waxman (D-Calif.) decried what he called FEMA’s indifference to storm victims and said the situation was “sickening.” He said the documents “expose an official policy of premeditated ignorance” and added that “senior officials in Washington didn’t want to know what they already knew, because they didn’t want the legal and moral responsibility to do what they knew had to be done.”
Rep. Thomas M. Davis III (R-Va.) said FEMA had obstructed the 10-month congressional investigation and “mischaracterized the scope and purpose” of its own actions. “FEMA’s reaction to the problem was deliberately stunted to bolster the agency’s litigation position,” Davis said. “FEMA’s primary concerns were legal liability and public relations, not human health and safety.” — Washington Post
FEMA director R. David “Duct Tape Your Windows” Paulison announced that the agency is pursuing additional testing of travel trailers, distributing information on formaldehyde to every travel trailer occupant, and setting up a toll-free phone number for people to call for information. Residents who want to speak to FEMA about formaldehyde can call 1-866-562-2381.
This is but one of many reasons why government cannot provide disaster recovery services effectively. As much as individuals in government may care about doing the right thing, helping people in need, etc., the fact of bureaucracy constrained by law and regulation prevents any such individuals from being effective. As I’ve said before, everyone in New Orleans would have been better off had Wal-Mart, or even ordinary individuals, run the disaster recovery, and far fewer people would have died.
The good news is that people are beginning to understand once again that they should not put their trust in government.
“We have lost a great deal through our dealings with FEMA, not the least of which is our faith in government,” former Army officer Paul Stewart, who lives in a trailer with his wife in Mississippi, told theWashington Post.
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Karl Marx would love the popular moves among politicians in various state governments and the federal government to ban so-called "junk" food in schools, and to "put healthy food in" convenience stores and on the tables of those they define as poor. It's a very elitist and arrogant mindset that promotes this ideology, and it needs to be addressed.
Ultimately, the war supporters in Congress prevailed in the vote on the resolution. Still, the vote was significant because it places every member of Congress on the record as supporting or not supporting the unconstitutional, costly, violent occupation of a country that never attacked us. This vote should serve as an important reminder to the American people of where their representatives really stand when it comes to policing the world, empire building, and war.
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Karl Erfurt
Jul 27, 2007
Wow, this hurricane Katrina mess has become a kind of disaster within a disaster. It has been almost two years since the original event, and we are still having to deal with the aftermath of this because of the government incompetence.
As you have noted, however, the silver lining here is that more people in the American mainstream just might start to question the federal government’s role in all of this. After all, the first step toward meaningful change is for the populace to become discontented with the status quo.
It should not be.
Jul 28, 2007
That is horrible but, every day things in use cause cancer. That diet soda some drink can kill you cause, cancer, heart disease and diabetis. The important thing to do is stay warm as we freeze to death. Staying warm is the key to prevent cancer.
Protect you!!!
Jul 28, 2007
Each person is responsible for themselves. The government is corrupt. They don’t give a damn about you. You have to protect yourself and family. Don’t let people walk allover you in a grave because, they will if they can make money. Stand tall and stand proud. Protect yourself now not tommorow!!!
Tom S.
Jul 28, 2007
Who the hell BUILT these trailers? And are these same type of trailers used in trailer parks all over the country?
Ray
Jul 29, 2007
Tom:
They are more or less the same type that are used at camp grounds around the world. They are built a little cheaper, but the other thing is that people normally don’t inhabit them full time. But yes it does make you wonder.
Killers
Jul 30, 2007
Who do you think killers who don’t give a shit!! Let’s be honest some false religions condone that shit!!! Be on guard or you will be in thier coffin!!! All it takes is common sense to stay alive!! Good luck!!!
Q
Jul 31, 2007
So this makes them accessories to murder right?
Kayla
Aug 10, 2007
our family of 4 has lived in a 33′ trailer for nearly a year while we hash thru insurance bureaucracy after loosing our home to fire last September. Our insurance agent had at first thought maybe the company would purchase the trailer for us to use. Then they did a 180, so we bought it for ourselves. I figured it had something to do with liability; I just didn’t realize how bad it could be. I just figured they didn’t want to be liable if someone fell and broke a bone, not that my 8 and 9 year old sons’ health was at risk. They contract with a very dishonest contractor who did a lot of disaster recovery after the hurricanes, so I’m sure they must be aware of the formaldehyde problem. This makes me sick. It’s not just the government you can’t trust.
Bridget S
Aug 11, 2007
We purchased a travel trailer at an online goverment auction.The trailer is a 2006,in GREAT shape.We were not aware untill we went to pick up the trailer in Cumberland ,Maryland that the trailers on that auction was in fact from FEMA.Our trailer was from BatonRouge.When you open the door there is such a strong odor it makes youre eyes&throat burn.Then some one tells me about the formaldehyde problem.I believe thats what it is.I think thats a ripp-off we paid thousands$$ for this and was never told or warned.Once again the goverment out to get you any way they can.
Mike Z
Aug 18, 2007
Somewhere in the trailer there should be a label that warns of the urea formaldehyde the wood products are made with.
It tells the user to ventilate the trailer to avoid this problem. If these tralers are left with the windows and vents closed in the heat of lower LA that can make the situation in the trailer very serious. If thelabels were removed or never installed, there should be a criminal investigation. If the labels are there, the people living in them should be using care and leaving the vents open.
I have been living in an RV for several years. I know that when I close te vents, I start to get sick and when I open them I feel better.
The government let the people down, but how is that any different from any other government program?
Tom
Sep 15, 2007
All you have to do is read all this crape that is being said right here, and you and you can tell how full of crape they are. A lot of lazy bum wanting something for nothing.You can not help the people in this country,it is either religion or goverments fault.GROW UP;
Jerry Johnson
Oct 14, 2007
We should put the FEMA leadership in the trailers and make them go through the same type of living standards that they have put on so many other people.
Then put them in jail for not protecting these poor people.
cm
Oct 17, 2007
I repair travel trailers for a living and when new all have the same smell and problem,but it disipates over time. There is a label or sticker(usually)that tells about it.$10,000 or $100,000 all manufacturers use it,so its not the gov out to get you. Open a window or vent and get over it, it was a free place for the “victims” to stay.
Anonymous
Oct 31, 2007
you get over it! you didn’t lose everything you own.
not all of us lived in trailers
Jillianamillian
Dec 26, 2007
I lived in one of those campers in Mobile, Al from October 05 until August of 07. I ended up in three different hospitals. No joke, it sucked. Two of the hospitals were
mental hospitals. I was in mental hospitals for 42 days and a regular hospital for about 18 days. All Fema is admitting to is the fact that studies have found that the contaminated trailers cause cancer and respitory trouble. However, they don’t tell you about breathing that shit can cause neurological problems, as well. I am just thankful to God I am doing well today. Oh yeah, my doctors made me promise not to go back and live in that camper. I gave it back to them, as soon as, I got out of the hospital. By the way, a Fema rep
resentative came to see me at the mental hospital. They are lieing to the American people. Why did they come to see me if they don’t feel responsible? I’ll tell you why. Because I am positive I am not the only person living in one of those
campers that this happened to. My doctor says there is a new
study out by some entity, I think it is called the American
Mental Association, that states the levels in those campers were causing neurological problems. Signed, Very Angry With Fema
Anonymous
Feb 16, 2008
Does anyone know that FEMA plans to let a fed prison recycle these toxic trailors, They are saying that this will be safe for the people who work on these trailors. Why is it not safe to live in but it is safe to breath these toxic fumes while tearing them apart.
Bertha Barlow
Mar 04, 2008
Just heard that this is where the trailors are going:
Bertha Barlow
Mar 04, 2008
not good at html, but will try to post this link about the trailers.
Toxic Trailers