More Than 2,000 FEMA Manufactured Homes In Orange County
Release Date: February 4, 2009
Release Number: 1791-392
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AUSTIN, Texas -- The 2,000th family moved into manufactured housing in Orange County this week as a result of efforts by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and its state and local partners to help ease the housing shortage in an area hit hard by Hurricane Ike.
As of Wednesday, 2,003 FEMA-provided temporary housing units have been occupied in Orange, Bridge City and other towns in Orange County. FEMA has now placed 98 percent of the county's eligible applicants in manufactured housing.
"Two thousand is an important milestone in Orange County because it means that nearly everyone who is eligible for a temporary housing unit is occupying one," said Federal Coordinating Officer Brad Harris. "Moreover, this puts us that much closer to completing the direct housing mission for all eligible Texans."
FEMA temporarily places applicants in manufactured housing only after all other short-term housing options, such as rental units, have been exhausted. The need for manufactured housing is great in Orange County because Ike caused extensive damage to the area's existing housing. In fact, of the anticipated need of 3,758 manufactured housing units throughout the disaster area, more than half, or 2,043, are in Orange County.
"We are making good progress in Orange County," said State Coordinating Officer Joan Haun. "Our partnership with FEMA has been essential to meeting this housing need."
FEMA leads and supports the nation in a risk-based, comprehensive emergency management system of preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation, to reduce the loss of life and property and protect the nation from all hazards including natural disasters, acts of terrorism and other man-made disasters.
Last Modified: Thursday, 05-Feb-2009 10:09:36