Louisianians Must Take Care of FEMA Travel Trailers
Serious Consequences May Result from Misuse and Abuse of Federal Property
Release Date: April 11, 2006
Release Number: 1603-435
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BATON ROUGE, La. - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has provided thousands of travel trailers as temporary housing throughout Louisiana for those displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. This federal investment is protected by certain regulations and evacuees who borrow these travel trailers are subject to these laws.
All tenants in FEMA travel trailers must sign the "Emergency Shelter Agreement to Rules of Occupancy," a document that binds occupants to the rules and laws relevant to living in the trailers. Tenants are also given copies of all "Park Rules and Regulations," and the rules are posted throughout FEMA group trailer park sites.
The rules governing the FEMA travel trailers are neither new, nor are they negotiable.
"The travel trailers and mobile homes are property of the federal government," said Federal Coordinating Officer Scott Wells. "Each trailer recipient is informed in writing about rules and regulations when they sign an occupancy agreement for one of these units."
The agreement requires that tenants must; keep the trailer and surrounding area clean, leave the travel trailer in its current location, abide by all local laws, look for permanent housing and, in group site locations, abide by all specified park rules. In addition, residents are responsible for maintaining their trailers by keeping them clean, changing light bulbs and smoke detector batteries, and making sure propane fuel tanks are refilled.
Tenants must remember that travel trailers are the property of FEMA and the residents will be held liable for any and all damages to the unit or other trailer park property, including damage caused by the residents' guests.
If the rules are broken by any member or guest of a household, tenants should remember that the entire family may be required to leave the unit immediately. Once a tenant is removed from a trailer for violating the rules and caught trespassing back in the area, they can be arrested and be subject to fines and jail time.
FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
Last Modified: Tuesday, 11-Apr-2006 11:24:44