FEMA to Introduce New Type of Manufactured Home 

Release Date: December 18, 2008
Release Number: 1791-343

» More Information on Texas Hurricane Ike

AUSTIN, Texas -- Some Texans displaced from their homes as a result of Hurricane Ike will soon be the first to occupy a new type of manufactured home built especially for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) under a new initiative.

Contractors are delivering the first of 30 new units to the soon-to-be-opened temporary community site, the Acadian Annex, in the southern Orange County town of Bridge City.

The new models, which have two bedrooms, one bathroom and about 616 square feet of living space, are sleeker than the mobile homes and larger than the park models FEMA currently is providing eligible Texans.

More important, these homes are made with products which emit no or low amounts of formaldehyde. Their debut in the Hurricane Ike recovery effort follows a major effort by FEMA to design a model that is virtually formaldehyde free; that is more streamlined than a mobile home, and thus easier and faster to install; and that can be produced in a timely fashion by several manufacturers.

Once the homes are occupied, FEMA will survey the residents to get their feedback on the models.

"We are thrilled to be able to provide these homes for Texans, and we hope they will be very happy in them," said Federal Coordinating Officer Stephen M. De Blasio Sr. "What's more, if this program is successful, FEMA will be able to respond quickly to the housing needs of displaced Americans in future disasters."

Thus far 3,636 households have been determined eligible for manufactured housing. Of that number, 2,167 have been placed in mobile homes or park models. That's a placement rate of nearly 60 percent. Another 453 manufactured homes are currently in the process of installation at private and commercial sites around the disaster area.

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: Friday, 19-Dec-2008 08:21:15