News Release
| 09/06/05 | ||
| Spratt, Clyburn Seek Housing for Hurricane Victims | ||
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Reps. John Spratt (D-SC) and Jim Clyburn (D-SC) have notified FEMA that 450 housing units at Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter could be made available to victims of Hurricane Katrina. September 2, 2005 The Honorable Michael D. Brown Dear Director Brown: Yesterday, an appeal was issued by Secretary Alphonso Jackson from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, seeking properties that can be used to house victims displaced by Hurricane Katrina for as long as six months to a year. Examples included hospitals, schools, and military bases. Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter, South Carolina, like many military bases, has several hundred housing units scheduled for demolition, which are to be replaced by privatized housing development. Based on our discussions with the base, there appear to be some 450 housing units that were vacated three years ago, and have been kept up with essential maintenance since then. Many of these units would require plumbing and electrical work before being re-occupied, but most can be put into habitable condition. There are approximately 160 units ready-to-use, but many of these have been reserved and used for Air Force families assigned to Shaw AFB who are looking for or awaiting other housing. These units cannot be offered to FEMA without approval of the Department of Defense, but as FEMA compiles a quick inventory of properties available, we propose these units to be considered along with other vacant housing units at other military bases. We assume that FEMA would be responsible for transportation of these families to this location, and that FEMA would remain responsible for their support and maintenance and eventually for return to their homes. In discussions with Shaw AFB, it was felt that first preference for these units should go to Air Force personnel, military and civil service, who have been displaced and are without housing due to Hurricane Katrina. We understand that heavy damage was done to Kessler Air Force Base, and our staff were informed at a briefing yesterday that Air Force damages overall are estimated at $4 billion. The Air Force, in addition to taking care of its own first, would find it easier to accommodate Air Force personnel on a military base. We propose these units for your consideration, and are ready to work with you in clearing the arrangements if you choose to use these resources. Respectfully yours, John M. Spratt, Jr. ###
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