FEMA Trailers Now For Tornado Victims

LITTLE ROCK (AP) - Some of the thousands of trailers purchased
by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in 2005 after hurricanes
tore through the Gulf Coast may finally be put to use to help
victims of another disaster.
Officials said the 7,200 trailers stored at the Hope airport
will "definitely" be used in Arkansas and Tennessee as housing
for victims of last week's tornadoes.
The decision comes after requests by state officials and
Arkansas' congressional delegation, which has criticized the
trailers in the past as a sign of federal ineptitude after
hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit Mississippi and Louisiana.
David Maxwell, who heads the Arkansas Department of Emergency
Management, said his office told FEMA immediately after the storms
that the victims would need some of the trailers.
FEMA administrator R. David Paulison said on a tour of the
damage last week that the agency would prefer putting storm victims
in rental property, although he acknowledged that could be
difficult in rural communities.
Maxwell said the number of trailers released would depend on the
number of people who called FEMA and requested help, as opposed to
simply releasing a blanket number. He said FEMA already hired a
contractor to prepare and possibly transport the trailers to those
in need.
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Those wanting to register storm damage with FEMA are asked to
call 800-621-FEMA.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)