Cedar Rapids differs on using moldy FEMA trailers
Posted: Tuesday, July 22, 2008
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) -- The city wants the state to consider cleaning up mold on Federal Emergency Management Agency trailers instead of replacing them.
Some council members said cleaning up the mold from exterior closets containing hot water heaters would create delays in finding temporary housing for residents displaced by last month's flooding.
Over the weekend, Lt. Gov. Patty Judge ordered FEMA to remove the moldy trailers and pay for temporary housing for residents living in them.
Councilman Chuck Wieneke accused Judge of political grandstanding in her announcement made Saturday, but Councilman John Shields disagreed, saying there was no evidence that Judge was trying to score political points.
In her statement on Saturday, Judge said she and Gov. Chet Culver were concerned about the conditions in which flood victims were living.
"Protecting the health and safety of Iowa families is Gov. Culver's and my number one priority," she said.
Wieneke said it might make more sense to clean the mold from the closets instead of shipping the trailers back to where they came from.
A FEMA representative said Monday that none of the mold found in the closets was observed in the living area of the homes.
Nonetheless, FEMA has agreed to pay for those living in the affected trailers to stay at the Crowne Plaza Five Seasons Hotel, pay for their meals and for storage of their personal items until different trailers arrive.
FEMA already has shipped out many of the 200 homes from the city and brought in replacements.
Councilwoman Monica Vernon said it might be better to let the current plan play itself out, noting that FEMA has already acted on the state's decision.
Mayor Kay Halloran said she would immediately ask the state about cleaning up the FEMA homes and keeping them in Cedar Rapids.
Some council members said cleaning up the mold from exterior closets containing hot water heaters would create delays in finding temporary housing for residents displaced by last month's flooding.
Over the weekend, Lt. Gov. Patty Judge ordered FEMA to remove the moldy trailers and pay for temporary housing for residents living in them.
Councilman Chuck Wieneke accused Judge of political grandstanding in her announcement made Saturday, but Councilman John Shields disagreed, saying there was no evidence that Judge was trying to score political points.
In her statement on Saturday, Judge said she and Gov. Chet Culver were concerned about the conditions in which flood victims were living.
"Protecting the health and safety of Iowa families is Gov. Culver's and my number one priority," she said.
Wieneke said it might make more sense to clean the mold from the closets instead of shipping the trailers back to where they came from.
A FEMA representative said Monday that none of the mold found in the closets was observed in the living area of the homes.
Nonetheless, FEMA has agreed to pay for those living in the affected trailers to stay at the Crowne Plaza Five Seasons Hotel, pay for their meals and for storage of their personal items until different trailers arrive.
FEMA already has shipped out many of the 200 homes from the city and brought in replacements.
Councilwoman Monica Vernon said it might be better to let the current plan play itself out, noting that FEMA has already acted on the state's decision.
Mayor Kay Halloran said she would immediately ask the state about cleaning up the FEMA homes and keeping them in Cedar Rapids.
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