Texas Housing Status Updates FAQs - Updated Jan. 6, 2009 

Release Date: November 8, 2008
Release Number: FNF-08-083

What is the purpose of these Texas Housing Status Updates?

By all accounts, public and private, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the state of Texas, and local officials in Texas were lauded for excellent performance in the hurricane response and in the initial stages of recovery. As we moved on in recovery, manufactured housing has become an issue of great interest, and rightly so. FEMA has been working closely with state and local officials to find ways to expedite and improve that process. Everyone has made a huge effort and improvement. We are double-focused to be effective and efficient. We continue to improve. These daily updates are a transparent testament to that process, demonstrating teamwork and progress and a dedication to the people and communities of Texas recovering from Hurricanes Ike and Gustav.

How many manufactured homes have been placed in Texas for Hurricane Ike victims?

Thus far, more than 2,600 families or individuals are in manufactured housing.

Many Texans living in coastal areas have lost their housing as a result of Hurricane Ike creating a tremendous challenge for state and federal officials to help find temporary housing for hurricane victims.

FEMA and the state of Texas are actively creating and implementing solutions for those who have been displaced. Under the most severe circumstances where alternate resources such as hotels and apartments are not available for temporary housing, FEMA may provide direct housing such as manufactured homes, at the request of the state with local community approval.

These daily updates show the progress that FEMA, Texas and local officials are making in real terms to provide housing to those families and communities in need.

What's involved in the process of placing and leasing-in manufactured homes?

Residents who live in any of the Texas disaster-designated counties and are in need of temporary housing or disaster information can call the FEMA registration/Helpline at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585.

In order to place a FEMA manufactured home on an applicant's property or on a commercial site nearby, the following steps are necessary:

Applicants must sign occupancy agreements for manufactured homes on private property or commercial sites.

Federal regulations prohibit FEMA from placing housing units in floodplains, but some Texas cities and counties have sent letters to FEMA authorizing it to allow manufactured homes or park models in their 100-year flood plain areas. Several dozen disaster-affected cities and counties have done this.

When it is reported that there are more than 20,000 families eligible for manufactured homes, how come so few of them, ultimately, are leased-into manufactured homes?

To date, 3,648 individuals or households are eligible for manufactured housing; 2,648 people have signed occupancy agreements and another 188 units are in the process of installation. A manufactured home is a last resort. Large numbers of families have found temporary lodging, have a rental resource, have located an alternate resource or are staying in their damaged home, rather than living in a manufactured home.

Some do not qualify for this housing option. As the slide explains, there are several reasons for applicants not to be eligible for manufactured homes. These include insufficient damages, no contact with a damage inspector or insufficient identification verification. If applicants have questions about their eligibility or need to update their information, they can contact FEMA at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362).

What are the dimensions of the FEMA manufactured homes?

The average specifications for FEMA manufactured housing are:

Manufactured homes come with startup kits that include cleaning supplies, dishes, silverware, towels and bedding.

Where can manufactured homes be placed?

Manufactured homes can be placed on an eligible victim's private property, if an individual has a large enough lot with access to the appropriate utility hookups. They can also be placed in an established mobile home park. A community park, built from the ground up, is also under construction.

Manufactured homes may also be placed on pre-existing commercial pads, private sites or, as a last resort, on a new group site approved by local officials and constructed and maintained by FEMA with state concurrence.

Standards for acceptable water, sewer and electrical hook-ups must be followed. The pad site must also adhere to environmental guidelines and flood-plain regulations.

What is the process for getting a manufactured home?

FEMA will conduct Pre-Placement Interviews with registered, eligible disaster victims to assess how long they will need interim housing assistance and to identify their optimum solution.

FEMA will work with local officials to identify pad locations throughout the affected area and begin negotiations for lease of those pads.

Based on the Pre-Placement Interviews, FEMA will identify and notify individuals and families who are eligible for placement of a housing unit on their property.

FEMA will transport manufactured housing units into the affected area and begin installing units on a prioritized basis as sites become available. Local codes and ordinances may require “local inspection” of electrical, sewer and propane connections before FEMA is permitted to issue keys to potential occupants.

The movement of FEMA manufactured homes to designated counties requires close coordination with the affected jurisdictions. Local codes and ordinances may prohibit the placement of manufactured homes within a jurisdiction or their use as residences within that jurisdiction.

What's FEMA doing to expedite installation of manufactured homes?

FEMA is working closely with Entergy and other power companies to get power provided to manufactured homes as efficiently and quickly as possible. Representatives from power companies are working side-by-side with FEMA and the state at the Joint Field Office. In addition, we have worked with local officials to expedite waiver requests. We have also streamlined contracts. Above all, we have found ways to communicate effectively among all parties focused on being effective and efficient.

What are the costs for staying in a manufactured housing?

Occupants of FEMA-provided manufactured housing are responsible for utilities, such as electricity, telephone and cable TV.

Occupants are assigned units on a month-to-month basis, for up to 18 months from the date of the disaster declaration, while they repair their homes or search for permanent housing.

To remain eligible, occupants must develop a housing plan and be making progress toward achieving permanent housing; this plan is reviewed monthly by an Individual Assistance case worker.

Manufactured housing is provided separate from funds under FEMA's Individuals and Households program. That means a person living in manufactured housing could still receive up to the maximum amount of assistance from FEMA for repairing their damaged home or to fund replacement of a home that was destroyed.

Are the manufactured homes safe from formaldehyde?

FEMA has all temporary housing units tested for formaldehyde before deploying them. The state also exercises its public health responsibility and determines whether that level is acceptable before any unit is provided to its residents.

All manufactured housing units used in Texas will have indoor formaldehyde air levels of less than 40 parts per billion, in accordance with FEMA-state agreement.

All manufactured housing units provided by FEMA will have been approved as safe and sanitary by federal, state and local officials.

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, 06-Jan-2009 11:05:14