2009 FEMA Disaster Housing Plan

With the upcoming focus on preparedness efforts for the 2009 Hurricane Season, FEMA is taking the opportunity to reach out to our stakeholders to outline FEMA's approach to working with federal partners, tribes, states, territories, local communities, and individual disaster survivors to meet disaster-related sheltering and temporary housing needs.

The 2009 Housing Plan describes the specific actions that FEMA will take this year to support tribal, state and local officials in meeting the housing needs of disaster survivors where a presidential declared disaster is made with a designation of FEMA's Individual Assistance Program. The plan outlines to all levels of government what actions FEMA can take to support them, and encourages joint planning for disaster housing needs well in advance of a disaster.

The 2009 Housing Plan outlines additional resources and tools at FEMA's disposal including the following: Transitional Sheltering Assistance – use of transitional shelters for those shelter residents and evacuees who will not be able to return to their homes for an extended period of time; Redefinition of Criteria for Use of Travel Trailers – Altered specifications for travel trailers to improve air quality, in part, by providing increased air exchange; Critical Needs Assistance – for displaced populations to help meet their immediate and critical needs–a limited amount of financial assistance to eligible applicants so they may buy life sustaining items such as water, food, first aid, prescriptions, infant formula, diapers, personal hygiene items, and fuel for transportation.

The 2009 Disaster Housing Plan does not advocate one housing solution over another. FEMA will continue to encourage states to take the lead in identifying the needs and resources, by convening state-led Housing Task Forces. These task forces will ensure that states will continue to have the authority to select from temporary housing solutions they deem sufficient to meet the needs of their residents following a disaster.