Residents in Temporary Disaster Housing Must Agree to Rules
Release Date: November 11, 2005
Release Number: 1605-101
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Montgomery, AL - Many survivors and evacuees of Hurricane Katrina are temporarily located in housing across the Gulf Coast states, including Alabama. These people may be living on travel trailers in commercial properties, state parks, or on private land, but no matter where Alabama residents or evacuees are located many of the housing rules remain the same.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency, (FEMA) has a standardized process for those entering the housing program which includes agreeing to rules of occupancy.
State park rules are the same everywhere in the state, although each park may have additional area-appropriate regulations. Alabama state park rangers are certified law enforcement officers, and are sworn to strictly enforce park rules and state laws.
Commercial trailer parks also have written rules. When Alabama residents or evacuees get travel trailers that are in state parks or commercial trailer parks, they must obey both FEMA rules and any rules of the campground or trailer park.
FEMA requires the resident to sign a form about the rules of living in a FEMA travel trailer. The form says they must keep the trailer and surrounding area clean. They must also obey the laws and not commit crimes while living in the units provided by FEMA. Alabama residents and evacuees who get trailers need to look for permanent housing, and when they find it, they need to let FEMA know they will be moving. Occupants must also respect the rights and privacy of their neighbors in the temporary housing area. If anyone living in the trailer wants to leave to return home to check on things, or to look for a job, they must let FEMA know they will be gone.
The agreement also contains a part that lists all family members living in the unit. It is important that all members be listed there in order to locate missing family members or in case of future emergencies. Only family members who lived in the home before the disaster, and who meet FEMA eligibility requirements, are allowed to live in the units.
All tenants in FEMA travel trailers are given copies of all the rules and regulations, and the rules are posted throughout the parks. If anyone in a FEMA trailer violates the rules, the whole family may be subject to the consequences.
The rules governing the FEMA travel trailers are not new, nor are they negotiable.
Last Modified: Friday, 11-Nov-2005 14:44:16