Unfounded: Assertions That FEMA Ignored or Manipulated Formaldehyde Research
Release Date: January 29, 2008
Release Number: HQ-08-008
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- FEMA rejects the notion that it ignored, hid or manipulated research related to formaldehyde within temporary housing units. Carlos Castillo, assistant administrator for disaster assistance for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), said today. Castillos comments were in response to assertions that it ignored, hid and manipulated government research on the potential impact of long-term exposure to formaldehyde on Katrina/Rita households occupying FEMA-provided manufactured housing in the Gulf.
The health and safety of disaster victims is our top priority at all times, Castillo said. At no time did FEMA, or would FEMA, ever, condone any action to mislead anyone in connection with the health and safety of the people we are dedicated to helping. Such activities would be completely contrary to our mission and our commitment to victims of disaster.
FEMA has been taking positive steps to address concerns about formaldehyde and air quality in temporary housing units in the Gulf. FEMA engaged the expertise of the DHS Office of Health Affairs, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Environmental Protection Agency to assess the situation. Air quality testing of a random sample of 500 units by the CDC has just concluded in Mississippi and Louisiana. A preliminary report on those findings is due back soon and will be released to the public, in mid-February.
Castillo said that as FEMA came to realize the scope of the issues, the agency has been taking aggressive action to share information with the public and address concerns about formaldehyde. FEMA has also developed and is implementing a multi-faceted approach that focus on helping occupants move to more appropriate housing.
FEMAs multiple focused approach to addressing the issues includes the following:
- A comprehensive a housing relocation initiative to help disaster victims still in temporary housing units move into more appropriate housing;
- Publishing and promoting a Formaldehyde Call Center so occupants of temporary housing units can ask questions and request alternate housing;
- Offering to immediately move occupants who request alternate housing because of formaldehyde concerns;
- Assigning housing caseworkers to households still in temporary housing units and conducting job-specific training to help them work with applicants to find alternate housing all FEMA field caseworkers have received this new training;
- Working with occupants of temporary housing units in group, industrial and commercial temporary housing sites as more housing resources become available along the Gulf Coast;
- Reinstituting and expanding a reimbursement program of relocation assistance to Katrina/Rita households displaced by the disaster expenses up to $4,000 eligible under IHP for applicants returning to their pre-disaster states, and for applicants in the states residing in temporary housing to move anywhere in the country beyond 50-miles from their current location in the state;
- Executing an Interagency Agreement with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to establish a temporary housing rental assistance and case management program to be administered by HUD through its Public Housing Agencies;
Castillo pointed out that of the 143,000 households that received temporary housing units following hurricanes Katrina and Rita, almost 70 percent have now moved out of those units and back into some form of permanent housing.
Furthermore, over $7.7 billion has been provided to more than 1.4 million households through FEMAs Individual and Households Program (IHP), including nearly $5.6 billion in Housing Assistance, and over $2.1 billion in Other Needs Assistance.
Nearly $2.5 billion of rental assistance has been distributed to over 730,000 households and FEMA has provided over $437 million in home repair payments, helping make more than 185,000 homes habitable across the Gulf Region following Katrina and Rita.
In addition, FEMA has provided more than $345 million to over 34,000 households to assist them towards the purchase of replacement housing.
It is FEMAs responsibility to provide timely and accurate information to applicants so that they can make informed decisions about their housing decisions. As our awareness of the issues has changed, so have our actions, and we are taking action. We have engaged CDC to conduct expanded air quality testing of occupied units, the sample gathering is complete, and analysis is ongoing. We are continuing to move people out of temporary housing units by establishing a housing relocation initiative, working with HUD to move people into apartments and expanding relocation and housing assistance to reflect current needs.
FEMA coordinates the federal governments 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 terrorism.
Last Modified: Tuesday, 29-Jan-2008 20:39:42