FEMA, Florida And Martin County Work Together To Address Immediate Housing Needs In Indiantown 

Release Date: November 22, 2004
Release Number: 1545-200

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ORLANDO, Fla. -- Beginning this week, 75 additional travel trailers will be available to Indiantown residents who were displaced as a result of hurricanes that hit in September. Indiantown was among the hardest-hit areas in Martin County and the 75 additional travel trailers will provide housing to families in need of housing.

“This is a temporary, immediate solution while we work with FEMA and Martin County officials to bring in mobile homes that will provide a longer-term, but still interim solution,” said State Coordinating Officer Craig Fugate of the State Emergency Response Team (SERT). “We hope to have the mobile home park up and ready at Heritage Park within three months and then work with the county and Indiantown Nonprofit Housing to build single-family homes that will provide a permanent solution.”

The travel trailer park will be on Warfield Boulevard, and will be surrounded by a slatted fence and bordered by shrubs and plants. The site will include parking for residents and a playground for children. Security will be provided by local law enforcement.

“Although temporary, we want to make sure the site is aesthetically pleasing for the residents and also complements the community landscape,” said Fugate.

At least 60 Indiantown families have been identified to lease into the housing. They will later move to the planned mobile home park of 50 to 104 units at Heritage Park (formerly known as Rogers’ Quarters). FEMA will pay for the water, sewer and other infrastructure at the site, which will later be replaced with permanent homes.

On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA’s continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.

Last Modified: Tuesday, 23-Nov-2004 09:15:34