DISASTER HOUSING ASSISTANCE TO INCLUDE MANUFACTURED HOUSING

CONTACTS:

Bland Franklin, FEMA
757/896-7258
Janet Clements, VDES
(804) 897-6510

FEMA-1293-DR-VA-PR# 60
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 1, 1999

HAMPTON, VA-Disaster recovery officials have activated another phase in their efforts to provide temporary housing assistance to victims of Hurricane Floyd. Manufactured housing will be provided to victims on a case-by-case, as needed basis, according to federal disaster recovery officials. On Monday, Nov. 1st, families in Boykins will become the first applicants to receive travel trailers in the disaster housing assistance program.

"Manufactured homes, commonly referred to as travel trailers and mobile homes, are used to house disaster victims only when all rental resources have been exhausted and no other housing is available," said Tom Davies, federal coordinating officer, for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). "Each applicant will be judged individually," said Michael Cline, state coordinating officer, who added that the move to bring in manufactured housing is being coordinated by local, state, and federal authorities. Applicants selected for manufactured housing have been staying with relatives or in hotels since their homes were damaged by flooding.

Groundbreaking has already begun on a group site for manufactured homes at the Agri-Business Industrial Park in Southampton County. Portions of the site will be ready for occupancy by mid-November after utilities are installed. Mobile homes and travel trailers at the site will be provided to applicants on a case-by-case basis. Some travel trailers will be placed, individually, on or near the property of homeowners who want or need to stay nearby while repairing flood damaged homes. Travel trailers will be made available, as needed, after they are winterized and hooked up to utilities.

All fully furnished manufactured housing is purchased by FEMA and is intended as interim housing until permanent housing is available. Disaster housing assistance, including temporary housing and rental assistance, is provided under FEMA's Individual Assistance program.