FEMA Protecting Its Employees, Not Evacuees
By Bill W. Wednesday Nov 07, 2007 6:43pm 
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There are still 50,000 families forced to live in FEMA trailers ever since Hurricane Katrina. Trailers in which the levels of formaldehyde present in the air are so high, CBS has obtained emails that indicate the agency is prohibiting its employees from even briefly stepping inside them, and despite agency claims "that it is still working on the formaldehyde problem," it isn't.
In July the head of the agency told Congress he was working quickly to deal with the toxic formaldehyde issue.
"FEMA and the CDC are scheduled to begin Phase One of a study in the Gulf Coast within the next few weeks," said FEMA Administrator R. David Paulison.
Now FEMA says the study has been halted - not a single trailer tested.The stated reason: the agency says it needs to identify "action levels for responding to the results."
In other words, when FEMA finds high levels of the toxic fumes, the agency still doesn't know what to do about it.
Sadly, this is exactly what we can expect as long as the party that doesn't believe in government is heading our government. Ever since Ronald Reagan's inaugural speech when he declared "Government isn't the solution; it is the problem," Republicans could hardly have done more to make sure it is the case.
Yep and it's worse than that it's not just FEMA it's the entire BushCo administration which can't seem to understand that the answer to this question:
You want poison with that toy?
Is....
NO!
Anyone want to guess how many trailers will be used for housing fire victims in San Diego.....? Anyone?
You got that right about Cowboy sh**bag Ronald Reagan's quote! Who would have known it then...?
They haven't fixed this yet? This was reported what a year ago?
L.A. Confidential @ 4:
No it was reported in July 06. "Toxic Tin Cans"
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14011193/from/ET/
Those that got trailers were the lucky ones- I'm STILL waiting for my FEMA aid... a hundred filled forms later.
Udon Nomee @ 2:
Um... None?
Maybe young people will figure out their future is being well done to a burned crisp by Senior Citizens and say okay enough is enough.
Why would a company use formaldehyde while constructing trailers?
Were they made in China?
Curious George @ 9:
It the out gas byproduct of the glue used in the pressboard cabinetry.
The displaced would be much better off in portable, collapsible, Bucky Fuller type geodesic domes. I had some friends who lived in one, it was very cool. Some crony must have got the FEMA contract and had stock in a formaldehyde company, I reckon.
http://ccoaler.blogspot.com/2007/11/fed-chairman-says-economy-likely-to....
Mortage crisis/subprime fiasco
“Government isn’t the solution; it is the problem,” Republicans could hardly have done more to make sure it is the case.
That was the intent, of course. There is no better way to weaken support for government programs than to make sure that they are completely ineffective, counterproductive and rife with corruption. FEMA incompetence is planned incompetence.
The plan is implemented in several ways. Appoint incompetent leadership with only one goal: to show that the agency in question is inherently worthless - with instructions to use the agency as a "privatization piggy bank" to enrich Republican contributors. Marginalize or run off agency professionals - the ones with actual expertise in the task at hand. When they blow the whistle, dismiss them as disgruntled former employees.
This has happened all over this government in every agency. There is no doubt, it is no accident, it was not a mistake.
Curious George @ 9:
Formaldehyde is in the glue in all paneling, plywood, particleboard, and medium density fiberboard. In other words, everything trailers are made of except for their sheetmetal shell and the frames they sit on. It's a major problem in all trailers/mobile homes/modular homes, but most companies have brought the levels down considerably since it became known. These FEMA trailers apparently were giving off readings off the scale comparatively.
"Why would a company use formaldehyde while constructing trailers?
Were they made in China?"
T
Symes @ 10:
No doubt constructed with the highest quality workmanship and to the highest safety standards.
That explains why the Corps of Engineers is trying to close Arkansas state parks during the most profitable part of the season. Keepin' busy w/the Corps.
Indoor Environment Notebook: Formaldehyde/mobilehomes
http://web.bsu.edu/IEN/archives/2000/041300.htm
smarf tookie @ 15:
China puts this stuff in everything. Socks, underwear, clothes, kids toys, blankets, food.
Curious George @ 9:
Most likely it is in the glue used to put the wall and ceiling panels on. Maybe FEMA should have had guidelines on how to make safe trailers--it's not so hard.
And the FEMA personnel could use suits and masks to inspect or maintain the unused rigs. No big deal really.
And OSHA should be testing the employees of the companies that made the trailers for formaldehyde exposure.
Heck of a job, Bushie.
When Rovie got kicked to the curb,
who was left in charge of the Katrina mess that he never addressed?
Heck of a job.
Pete @ 21:
Business as unusual. Bushes want to make sure their buds in Big Parm and Med have a never ending supply patients.
It does make you wonder that the Government no longer cares for its people. It's no secret that they've been murdering the constitution for many years now under the cloak of natural disasters, such as hurricane Katrina, and the insoluble wars that they seem eager to wage.
Shocking!
Blabble @ 23:
These deaths and illnesses are probably going to continue and the Mob is going to try to convince Americans it’s just nature and has nothing to do with industrialism.
These people have no sense of legal, ethical or moral responsibility. Their only responsibility is to themselves and their businesses - to maximize PROFIT no matter what.
Blabble @ 23:
I guess it's just a small step from murdering the Constitution to murdering the citizens it's supposed to protect...
FEMA: "We're working on the formaldehyde problem, and as soon as we're finished, we'll correct this problem by 2009, promise."
Oh, fer chrissakes, how much more can these guys suck?!?!
Norquistian governance in action
Friday headline.
Experts say Formaldehyde good for keeping sinuses clear.
Are there not replacements by now? I had this bizarre idea that when they realized the trailers were full of poison they replaced them.
MargeAggedon @ 31:
HAW HAW HAW. Thanks for the belly laugh. Neocons correcting a mistake?
peoples Front of Judea @ 32:
Silly I know. But like I said... bizarre idea.
I hate these bastards more then anything and I hope all of them burn in hell
Reagan wasn't the solution, he was the problem.
If Reagan thought government of the people, by the people, for the people was the problem, then he should have never run for president, because it is obvious that he hated our government just as much as all reich-wing nuts do.
On the other hand, Reagan is the Father of the Fascist Republican Party, the culture of corruption Republican Party that we unfortunately know so well today.
Where the hell does FEMA get these trailers---eBay?
reagan was a typical repug, all talk. reagan was talking about his trickle-down theory when he was literal peeing.
fema is as crooked as the rest of chimpy's admin. fema would rather pass a bill stating it will not hold the makers of those gas chambers responsible. Isn't that what chimpy does all the fucking time? Besides, those ingrates (we know how chimpy folks put it) don't know how to appreciate an ocean view.
repugs are a danger to the world
Udon Nomee @ 2:
There were a whole big bunch of them after the 2003 debacle so I wouldn't expect it to be any different this time around.
of couse fema is useless. chimpy first has to make up new admin names to house his crooks. The fema this committee. The fema that committee. This set up will bide for time and is a good set-up to pay for more of chimpy's dingbats. These nuts will get full benefits for life and a padded resume.
How stupid, greedy and murderous it is to stop a medical investigation?
Why would they admit to incompetency before they even begin? Isn't fema responsible for these toxic trailers? Isn't fema about making these people safer than what they just went through?
BTW--the original chimp reagan, didn't believe in government, just our money.
repugs will make a postal stamp hold more value than a dollar
2nd BTW -- My dental insurance is sky high. What the hell happened?
Deregulation! I will tell you this, it was not working people that have screwed up our dollar, it has been the rich and their politicians that have created this disaster, the working guy didn't haul all those jobs over seas. The working guy wasn't flippin million dollar condos and or profiting off the massive spending of this war. We didn't decide to borrow billions from our grand children, but we all know who did. Greed, the get mine generation, what have they left the rest of us?
Genocide, pure and simple.
Where's that Rocky guy from N.O. to say that Bush deserves a third term? FEMA is as useless as the Chimp.
Clean out the ENTIRE White House.
I sincerely hope Reagan's soul is in the lowest level of hell.
Gibson must have missed the story on my local Nc station....at the soup kitchen run by urban ministry GLOVES are available for tghe homeless but they may run out of COATS
justabill @ 14:
Also note its the stored (sealed) unused ones that had the FEMA warnings,
and in daily use they get doors and windows opened, and people breathe in,
so this lowers the readings for the new trailers when they get deployed,
but there must be a period of danger for several months.
The warning prob could be applied to some new houses and buildings too.
A wake up call to change and improve the manufacturing of building materials.
It should take only a couple of months of 'Fema protecting it's Employees', for the organization to be decimated.
Another boon for mankind.
ferrofluid @ 45:
Just to establish my political position from the outset:
- FEMA is incompetent
- Bush and Republicans suck
That out of the way it's important to note that reporters often manipulate or hide information for dramatic effect in their reports, or are incompetent to evaluate facts correctly. Based on these reports the outrage is off and running as people who know even less about the issue weigh in.
The significant words in this report, which slipped by very quickly, were that this memo applied to trailers "sealed in storage" and not in use.
Formaldehyde is bad, and should not be used where living things are in danger of exposure. The level due to outgassing in a trailer in use is much much lower than in a trailer SEALED IN STORAGE.
I suspect these trailers were made in the United States using good old American knowhow, and not in China.
MSN used to not want to cover things like this, After the blogs push and push they would finially mention it about 3 days later, now it seems like the newspapers are reporting what the blogs are reporting per batum only 24-48 latter. So one can conclude MSPress does do any of its own investigations any more.
I think MARTIAL LAW STINKS
The aftermath of Katrina was appears to have been an experiment. Here's a free full length film about how 9/11 and other events are orchestrated by small groups within government.
UnEasyOne @ 13:
I can't imagine the thousands of FEMA workers around the country helping disaster victims would really appreciate this post. I haven't heard anything but great great praise internally about FEMA's director. He's a great man and "corruption" shouldn't have been mentioned by you.
Why are these Katrina "Victims" still living in trailers and waiting for a handout? Has anyone heard of get off your lazy ass and get a job! Make your tomorrow!
It's not Bush's fault, he inherited a fucked up system and you can thank the biggest asshole of all time, FDR, who ruined our government. Not one Congressman, except Ron Paul has done a fucking thing for the last 80 years to decrease the size of government. Have you ever had to deal with the federal government for any reason? I hope you don't, because it will be the most fucked up experience you will ever know. Our government is completely broken, and all these bullshit agencies need to be dissolved & 1/2 of the people working for government need to be given pink slips, because my taxes are almost 50% of my pay, after I buy all my needs.
Do you sheeple want more of this, or less? The only answer is Ron Paul.
DefendThyself @ 52:
Use your head, people are greedy, companies are greedy. Look at all the downsizing and rich CEO's. If you think things are tight now, wait till all the entrepreneurs get ahold of everything.
So there's no way around it. The trailers are unhealthy. Has anybody bothered to ask WHY people are still living in trailers? It's time to stop blaming the government for these peoples current problems.
I refuse to feel excessive sympathy for affected people living in the trailers.
The FIRST sentence is the root problem with all of this. Nobody is "forced" to live in a trailer. "But where else would they go, the flood destroyed their previous homes!! You don't care about anybody and are a horrible person!!" No. I am sorry, but the FEMA trailers were never supposed to be permanent housing. They are temporary shelter for use while the flood victims are supposed to be getting back on track! When did ANY human, aside from political affiliation being accepting people's complete and utter lack of willpower as acceptable and we'll just give them everything they need until they get their life in order??! Nobody will work for anything if things are given to them.
It is very hard to have this junk crammed down your throat when you live in Houston. I ain't got no job, what I gonna do now! I got kids that ain't had no food we be hungry!! Quotes like the previous sentence are printed weekly at a MINIMUM in the Houston Chronicle.
I can't imagine how hard it must be to have your possessions taken, your house destroyed, and your family uprooted. Luckily, that has never happened to me. However, I do know that if it did, I would take the only acceptable action, and find a way to provide for myself and my family. You cannot expect others to do everything for you, especially when you do absolutely nothing (and less than nothing, if possible) for yourself.
There needs to be a strict, no-acceptions deadline set in stone for the free amenities and trailer use. The victims of the flood have been babied and spoon-fed for far too long. Life doesn't pause because there was tragedy. Adults learn how to adapt and move on, and there has been plenty of time for that. If you haven't done your job as a human being yet, then you may as well shoot yourself with the 9mm that was purchased with the money you wre supposed to rebuild your life with. Because i'm tired of you shooting people in my used-to-be-wonderful city.
To #54, Josh
Your position that these people need to get moving is all fine and dandy. On the other hand it's no excuse for Fema's failure. While I don't expect government to solve the entire problem, I would expect the ability to provide an adequate starting point for these people.
Do you ever notice how much our government is starting to sound like we are a third world country?
55 Steve -
I agree about not excusing Fema for providing inadequate temporary living, however I also don't believe that it was on purpose. Every aspect of production nowadays is meant for efficiency, which sadly for consumers means cheap product.
It is a very big issue that the starting point (trailer) hasn't progressed to anything besides even more of a worn-down starting point for people. What will it take for people to take matters into their own hands?