WASHINGTON — The government may house disaster victims in trailers again this hurricane season as a last resort, despite promises never to use them again because of high levels of formaldehyde found in trailers used after the Katrina catastrophe.
Only the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency can approve the use of such trailers, and they must meet the agency’s requirement for minimal levels of formaldehyde, according to a draft of the agency’s 2008 hurricane-season plan, obtained Monday by the Associated Press. Also, disaster victims could stay in the trailers for only six months.
The Bush administration and FEMA came under heavy criticism for the response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Thousands were sent to emergency travel trailers, and it was later discovered that the trailers had high levels of the preservative formaldehyde. Prolonged exposure can lead to breathing problems and is also believed to cause cancer.
Hurricane season started Sunday and will last through November.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
