FEMA Trailers Sent To Flood Victims May Be Unsafe

FEMA trailers arrive for flood victims in Miami, Oklahoma. They're intended as shelter. But are they safe? In congressional hearings Thursday, there was testimony that some FEMA trailers sent to the

Friday, July 20th 2007, 10:39 am

By: News On 6

FEMA trailers arrive for flood victims in Miami, Oklahoma. They're intended as shelter. But are they safe? In congressional hearings Thursday, there was testimony that some FEMA trailers sent to the Hurricane Katrina disaster might have unsafe levels of formaldehyde. The News On 6â€™s Steve Berg reports internal memos suggest that FEMA ignored the complaints.

We talked to Miami city officials and the FEMA spokesman in Miami. Neither of them can tell us if these trailers in Miami are the same ones that are suspect from Hurricane Katrina.

Arneta and Slim Casey are eager to leave the Red Cross shelter in Miami, where they've been staying for two weeks now, but they're not eager to move into one of the FEMA trailers that arrived here a couple of days ago.

"Are you worried they might make you sick?" asked News On 6 reporter Steve Berg.

"Yeah, that's the reason why I don't want one of them,â€ said Slim Casey.

Blasted by a House committee investigating complaints that some FEMA trailers have unsafe levels of formaldehyde, FEMA administrator David Paulison said all trailer occupants would be notified about possible dangers.

Casey says he only learned about it through casual conversation with other people at the shelter. Miami city officials appeared to be aware of the formaldehyde concern, but flatly refused to comment until they say, they learn more from FEMA.

The FEMA spokesman stationed in Miami said he didn't know anything about the formaldehyde issue and said there was no one he could call to find out about it. He did say that none of the trailers in Miami had been given to anyone yet.

"They look for other forms of rental assistance including apartments, hotels and motels. FEMA always tries to use travel trailers or mobile homes as a last resort,â€ said FEMA spokesman Bill Plumlee.

The Red Cross has found the Caseyâ€™s an apartment in the nearby town of Picher, but it's unclear how long they'll be able to stay there. But they know they don't want to live in one of the FEMA trailers.

"I just don't want to live in one, if we can find something else,â€ Casey said.

Complaints from those Hurricane Katrina trailers include breathing problems, skin rashes, headaches, bloody noses and even death.

The people we talked to in Miami did not indicate whether the Miami trailers will be checked for unsafe levels of formaldehyde.

Watch the video: Flood Victims To Get FEMA Trailers, But Are They Safe?

Watch the CBS News video: Toxic FEMA Trailers

Related Stories:

7/18/2007 FEMA Trailers Arrive In Flood Ravaged Miami

7/20/2007 On Heels Of Formaldehyde Complaints, FEMA Announces Plans To Test Trailer Air Quality