February 1, 2010
 
It appears that the sale of 15,000 FEMA trailers last Friday in Hope ends the talk about sending FEMA trailers to Haiti–which was being pushed by the RV industry as a way to prevent these trailers from flooding the market in the U.S. Although there are still more large lots of the trailers that are likely to be sold, there apparently is no real interest and logistical problems to sending these to Haiti.

The government is requiring a sticker be placed on these surplus trailers auctioned off saying they aren’t supposed to be used for housing. But these trailers will be sold again and again, and the stickers are likely to be removed or placed where they can’t be easily seen. That is what happens to the HUD formaldehyde warning labels that are supposed to be on all manufactured housing. We have had calls from people who unwittingly earlier bought FEMA trailers, and they weren’t warned of the problems and are now stuck with them–sometimes still owing a mortgage on them.

Buyers should also be aware that when the CDC tested FEMA trailers in Miss. and Louisiana for formaldehyde, they also checked for mold. Half the trailers also had mold, which can also be very toxic and harmful to health. Fires and explosions are also a potential threat because these trailers were not set up or maintained properly. I have reposted Matt Robinson’s Gambit article on that under Toxic Trailer News and here:

Alarming Failure – FEMA trailers have alarms that warn of dangerous propane levels, but the alarms work only if they are properly installed and maintained

toxictrailers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: U.S. House of Representatives – Committee on Homeland Security – FEMA Trailer Auction Should Be Stopped

Idiots in Louisiana Auctioning (Livingston-based Henderson Auctions) 400 FEMA Trailers bought from the U.S. General Services Administration & The Advocate – WBRZ News 2 is there & mentions absolutely nothing of the controversy (katrina) & health risks!!!

Fema Trailers – Why CDC Responded With ‘Lack of Urgency’ to Formaldehyde Warnings – top government officials worried about lawsuits from the beginning

ToxicTrailers.com – selloff of FEMA trailers unfair – Many trailers tested high in formaldehyde

A letter to the NAA regarding an email they deleted without reading – please retract your amicus in the Abad case in Arizona – it is fraud by a political action committee, the National Apartment Association, that is furthering another fraud by another political action committee, the US Chamber of Commerce

Political Action Committee – NAA – files Amicus Brief in mold case (two infant deaths in mold filled apt – Wasatch Prop Mgmt) citing US Chamber/ACOEM ‘litigation defense report’ to disclaim health effects of indoor mold & limit financial risk for industry

“Changes in construction methods have caused US buildings to become perfect petri dishes for mold and bacteria to flourish when water is added. Instead of warning the public and teaching physicians that the buildings were causing illness; in 2003 the US Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform, a think-tank, and a workers comp physician trade organization mass marketed an unscientific nonsequitor to the courts to disclaim the adverse health effects to stave off liability for financial stakeholders of moldy buildings. Although publicly exposed many times over the years, the deceit lingers in US courts to this very day.” Sharon Noonan Kramer

Information on Riverstone Residential knowingly exposing tenants to extreme amounts of mold toxins at Toxic Mold Infested Jefferson Lakes Apartments in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Toxic Mold Infested Jefferson Lakes Apartments managed by Riverstone Residential

Riverstone Residential Litigation

Mold Inspection Reports

Photos of Mold in Apartment

Attorney Malpractice