FEMA Will Use Mobile Homes from Its Hope, Arkansas Facility to Support Disaster Housing Needs in Arkansas and Tennessee

February 13, 2008, WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will deploy mobile homes from its Hope, Ark. facility for use as disaster housing in support of the recent tornadoes in Arkansas and Tennessee. The mobile homes will be used to provide temporary housing for eligible applicants who suffered damages to or losses of their homes until the residents are better able to make other, more permanent arrangements.

"FEMA will deploy mobile homes from our Hope facility as part of overall housing strategy for the residents of Arkansas and Tennessee," said FEMA Administrator David Paulison. "We will work in partnership with state and local officials to ensure that displaced applicants are placed in the best available housing solutions."

FEMA will not deploy travel trailers to support the direct housing initiatives for the two states. Mobile homes differ from travel trailers in that mobile homes are designed for more longer term stays and travel trailers are specifically designed as recreational vehicles for shorter stays. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) regulates the construction of manufactured housing and has developed guidelines for materials used in mobile home construction. FEMA-provided mobile homes meet or exceed HUD standards as a temporary housing option.

FEMA has worked with state and local officials to identify housing needs and available resources in both Arkansas and Tennessee. FEMA and state officials will continue to evaluate the housing needs of the affected communities and place the residents into the best housing options available.

FEMA and state officials will continue to evaluate the housing needs of the affected communities and place the residents into the best housing options available and for which they are eligible while they recover from their losses. Our first option is to find available housing in the affected communities. However, we will make mobile homes available to support residents in all of the communities affected by the recent tornadoes when needed.

FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.

Source: FEMA

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