Goshen, NY – U.S. Rep. John Hall (D-NY19) released the following statement after learning that the temporary trailer provided by FEMA for the Town of Deerpark had to be removed due to potential formaldehyde contamination:

"It’s been 780 days since Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast and exposed shocking flaws in FEMA's ability to respond to a disaster and provide safe trailers for temporary housing.  It is beyond belief that we still can’t trust FEMA’s leadership in Washington, DC to know if the trailers that New Yorkers may need to live in after a natural disaster or major terrorist attack are safe.  The Town of Deerpark and communities throughout New York deserve to know why FEMA’s leadership gave the Walkill facility trailers unfit for use.  New Yorkers need to be reassured that they can rely on these trailers in a critical time of need."

Hall's office is currently pursuing other options to obtain office space for the Deerpark employees.

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