FEMA: TEMPORARY HOUSING OPERATION BEGINS FOR ELIGIBLE TEXAS WILDFIRE SURVIVORS
The manufactured housingunits are part of a larger state/FEMA housing program that uses severalresources to house eligible residents displaced by wildfires that occurred on orafter Aug. 30. While rental homes and apartments are preferred, the temporaryhousing units will provide a short-term answer for some displaced Texans.
The temporary units will be placed in areas where thedemand for rental homes and apartments far outstrips the supply. Because of theextent of the destruction in Bastrop County, eligible survivors there are likely candidates for manufacturedhousing. Units will also be placed in other counties affected by wildfires asthe need is identified, said the Texas Division of Emergency Management andFEMA.
"Manufactured housing can bean excellent short-term solution for Texans driven from their homes by thisdisaster," said Federal Coordinating Officer Kevin L. Hannes of FEMA. "Whilerental housing is the desired option, our goal is to ensure everyone has a safeplace to live."
The units will be providedfor up to 18 months from the Sept. 9 declaration date, inaccordance with local directives, as the final option in areas with limitedavailable rental housing.
Two types of housing unitsare available. Park models are 12-by-34 feet, with two bedrooms and onebathroom. Mobile home models are 14-by-60 feet, with three bedrooms and onebathroom. Each version has a model that meets the Uniform Federal AccessibilityStandards for people with disabilities, such as lower light switches and sinks,wider hallways and other features required for accessibility.
After arriving in Texas fromSelma, Ala., and Baton Rouge, La., the units are inspected and prepared foroccupancy. They are then moved to survivors' property, if feasible, or pads incommercial mobile home parks in designated counties.
The units come fullyfurnished and move-in ready, with a stove, refrigerator and a microwave oven.Furnishings include a dining set, living room set, beds and chests of drawers.
The units arebuilt to meet or surpass stringent safety and air quality specifications issuedby the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. All units, includingfurnishings and appliances, are new and built to quality and workmanshipstandards that are higher than those mandated by law. Each FEMA temporaryhousing unit has been tested and passed an indoor air quality test to verifycompliance with air quality standards established by Texas. Safety featuresinclude interconnected smoke alarms, a NOAA Weather Radio and a fireextinguisher.
The units will be made available to eligible registeredsurvivors. Texans can register online at www.disasterassistance.gov, viaweb-enabled phone at m.fema.gov, or by calling1-800-621-3362 or TTY 1-800-462-7585. Those who use711-Relay or Video Relay Services can call 1-800-621-3362. FEMA phonelines are open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days aweek, and multilingual operators are available.
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Disasterrecovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion,nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. Ifyou or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at800-621-FEMA (3362). For TTY call 800-462-7585.
The mission ofthe Texas Division of Emergency Management, Texas Department of Public Safety,is to support the citizens of Texas and local jurisdictions as they plan for,respond to, recover from and mitigate the impacts of all hazards, emergenciesand disasters. For more information, see: www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem.
FEMA's mission is to support ourcitizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together tobuild, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against,respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.