Two-Week Progress on Direct Housing 

Release Date: July 12, 2008
Release Number: 1763-082

» More Information on Iowa Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

DES MOINES, Iowa -- Iowans left homeless by recent storms, tornadoes and floods are moving into manufactured housing provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), at the request of the Iowa Joint State-Led Housing Task Force. The task force made its request in a June 27, 2008 letter to FEMA.

At the moment 35 families are living in furnished, two- and three-bedroom units installed in a mobile home park in Linn County. About 440 other households have been determined as eligible for FEMA manufactured housing so far.

More applicants are going through the process to determine eligibility. As of Friday, about 180 mobile homes had arrived at five mobile home parks near Cedar Rapids and Iowa City, or a staging area in Dike, Iowa. Nearly 150 more are on their way to Iowa. FEMA has agreed to provide as many units as are needed to meet the state's request.

The complex logistical effort of identifying people eligible for housing, leasing sites in commercial parks, transporting the units and getting them installed, wired and readied for occupancy continues nearly around the clock.

The units - mobile homes and park models - are hauled from storage sites in Cumberland, Maryland, and Hope, Arkansas. More than 350 federal, state, and contracted employees are involved.

FEMA provides manufactured housing only where no other housing is available. Priority then goes to those families left essentially homeless by the disaster - those living in tents, cars, shelters or those that are crowded into temporary space in private homes of neighbors, friends or relatives.

Households with special access needs can be housed in park models compliant with the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS).

Three-bedroom mobile homes provide living space for families up to six persons. They are equipped with the basics to be livable upon occupancy, including furniture, appliances, cookware, dinnerware, utensils, bedding and towels. Park models, which have attached porches and are UFAS certified, have two bedrooms. They are similarly furnished.

FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.

Last Modified: Tuesday, 15-Jul-2008 11:43:33