Evacuees Find a Home Away From Home in Alabama
Release Date: October 27, 2005
Release Number: 1605-080
» More Information on Alabama Hurricane Katrina
MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- Thousands of hurricane evacuees and families are calling Alabama home these days as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) helps them re-establish their lives.
For most of these individuals and families the greatest need is housing. They are living in travel trailers, hotels and temporary fixed facilities while deciding whether to return to their former communities or seek housing and employment elsewhere.
They are not alone when it comes to housing needs. As of October 27, the number of state residents registered with FEMA for disaster assistance was more than 112,000. Rental assistance totaling $56.4 million has gone out to 32,000 approved applicants. An additional 26,711 displaced evacuees, listing permanent addresses in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas have given mailing addresses in Alabama when registering for FEMA aid.
Meeting this immediate housing need successfully has been a primary focus for FEMA and the state of Alabama. A staged plan, to move storm survivors from temporary shelters to transitional interim housing and then on to permanent housing is almost complete. Including private and commercial sites and state parks, 1,900 trailers are housing 5,600 occupants. By the end of this week only eight individuals will be in 2 shelters. Others have been helped to find alternative housing. At its peak 5,421 residents and evacuees from neighboring states were in shelters.
There are now 678 trailers ready for occupancy. Trailers are an entirely voluntary option for anyone seeking interim housing. Most seek rental housing on the local market, or move into interim housing facilities hoping to eventually return home.
Federal officials say that tremendous progress has been made in the placement of travel trailers and housing of hurricanes Katrina and Rita survivors. Local agencies and groups are making aggressive efforts to identify suitable housing in areas near jobs, schools and community services. All applicants who have remained on their own property, perhaps for security reasons, have been provided information on FEMA housing programs that are available for temporary housing.
Officials say 571 travel trailers have been placed on private and commercial sites and in state parks in the general vicinity of Bayou La Batre, one of the most seriously damaged communities in Alabama. Some residents who qualified for a travel trailer but did not have sufficient space on their property have been provided a trailer in nearby communities such as Theodore or Coden.
After an applicant is determined eligible for a travel trailer, a survey of the lot is made to determine if a trailer will physically fit onto the property. If so, the trailer is delivered by a FEMA contractor who places it is a safe location, blocks the unit up and installs either stairs or ramps for handicapped accessible units.
The unit is then connected to water and sewer lines. It is the occupant's responsibility to arrange to have the electricity connected. Occupants pay no rent but they are responsible for payment of all utilities, including telephone and cable television charges.
A group site is under construction adjacent to the Bayou La Batre Community Center for families that do not have sufficient space or facilities for a trailer on their own property. Initially, 100 travel trailers will be available at the group site with additional units added as is needed. Officials say that the first trailers could be available for occupancy very soon.
Last Modified: Thursday, 27-Oct-2005 19:53:18