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FEMA address air-quality issues in mobile homes it issued to flood victims
By JIM OFFNER, Courier Business Editor
DES MOINES --- At the end of last summer's flooding, victims who were able to secure temporary housing in mobile homes provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency likely were happy to have a roof over their heads.
Now, in the wake of recent media reports, some of those transplanted residents are worried about the air they're breathing in those temporary homes.
Last week, had three meetings designed to set the record straight on the air quality of the homes. Reports had surfaced that residents forced out of their temporary homes in order to have the air quality of the homes tested, would have to pay for alternate housing until it was clear for them to move back in.
U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley requested in a letter that FEMA produce the original test results for each trailer in question and renewed a call that FEMA, or a reputable independent lab, retest these trailers to determine whether they are safe to live in.
"FEMA has a pattern of health and safety problems with the trailers they issue, from unsafe levels of formaldehyde in previous disasters, to large amounts of mold found in some Iowa trailers, and now to reports of dangerous formaldehyde in even more Iowa trailers," Braley said in the letter. "Given this record, it is imperative FEMA go above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that their trailers are safe, by making public all records of formaldehyde testing and retesting the trailers in question. Openness and full disclosure by FEMA is the only responsible way to resolve this problem."
The federal agency, which has brought in 544 mobile homes for flood victims, mostly in Linn County, ultimately relented and agreed to retest, by request of the resident, any mobile home it supplied to flood victims.
FEMA spokesman Russ Edmonston said the agency followed up immediately.
"We reacted quickly, so we put a flier out to every occupant saying if you'd like your home retested, we'll do that," he said.
About 120 residents attended three meetings held in Cedar Falls, Marion and Wapello, according to FEMA. As of Nov. 10, FEMA had fielded 70 requests from residents for indoor air-quality tests. Eight had sought alternate housing. Six requests had come from Black Hawk County, Edmonston said.
"If an occupant requests it, FEMA will pay for a motel stay during the indoor air quality testing period," he said.
Testing got under way Nov. 3, with three team averaging about 12 inspections per day, Bill Vogel, FEMA's federal coordinating officer, said in a news release.
Test results can take up to two weeks to come back, Edmonston said.
FEMA still maintains that the mobile homes it supplied fell within state-mandated clean-air standards of 40 parts per billion.
"Every unit allowed into the state passed testing before it was brought into the state," he said, adding that any unit that did not pass inspection was turned away.
Vogel said a resident's lifestyle --- smoking, cooking, furniture from wood products and even perfumes or air fresheners --- can affect a home's air quality."
Vogel urged occupants to activate the building's air exchanger and periodically, when weather allows, open windows and doors for short times.
FEMA has contracted inspection/audit firm Bureau Veritas to conduct inspections, Edmonston said.
Contact Jim Offner at (319) 291-1598 or jim.offner@wcfcourier.com
Now, in the wake of recent media reports, some of those transplanted residents are worried about the air they're breathing in those temporary homes.
Last week, had three meetings designed to set the record straight on the air quality of the homes. Reports had surfaced that residents forced out of their temporary homes in order to have the air quality of the homes tested, would have to pay for alternate housing until it was clear for them to move back in.
U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley requested in a letter that FEMA produce the original test results for each trailer in question and renewed a call that FEMA, or a reputable independent lab, retest these trailers to determine whether they are safe to live in.
"FEMA has a pattern of health and safety problems with the trailers they issue, from unsafe levels of formaldehyde in previous disasters, to large amounts of mold found in some Iowa trailers, and now to reports of dangerous formaldehyde in even more Iowa trailers," Braley said in the letter. "Given this record, it is imperative FEMA go above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that their trailers are safe, by making public all records of formaldehyde testing and retesting the trailers in question. Openness and full disclosure by FEMA is the only responsible way to resolve this problem."
The federal agency, which has brought in 544 mobile homes for flood victims, mostly in Linn County, ultimately relented and agreed to retest, by request of the resident, any mobile home it supplied to flood victims.
FEMA spokesman Russ Edmonston said the agency followed up immediately.
"We reacted quickly, so we put a flier out to every occupant saying if you'd like your home retested, we'll do that," he said.
About 120 residents attended three meetings held in Cedar Falls, Marion and Wapello, according to FEMA. As of Nov. 10, FEMA had fielded 70 requests from residents for indoor air-quality tests. Eight had sought alternate housing. Six requests had come from Black Hawk County, Edmonston said.
"If an occupant requests it, FEMA will pay for a motel stay during the indoor air quality testing period," he said.
Testing got under way Nov. 3, with three team averaging about 12 inspections per day, Bill Vogel, FEMA's federal coordinating officer, said in a news release.
Test results can take up to two weeks to come back, Edmonston said.
FEMA still maintains that the mobile homes it supplied fell within state-mandated clean-air standards of 40 parts per billion.
"Every unit allowed into the state passed testing before it was brought into the state," he said, adding that any unit that did not pass inspection was turned away.
Vogel said a resident's lifestyle --- smoking, cooking, furniture from wood products and even perfumes or air fresheners --- can affect a home's air quality."
Vogel urged occupants to activate the building's air exchanger and periodically, when weather allows, open windows and doors for short times.
FEMA has contracted inspection/audit firm Bureau Veritas to conduct inspections, Edmonston said.
Contact Jim Offner at (319) 291-1598 or jim.offner@wcfcourier.com
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