Posted on 11/15/2006 7:43:40 AM PST by FourPeas
NEW ORLEANS Hundreds of modular homes meant for hurricane victims were damaged beyond repair while unused and unprotected from weather.The Federal Emergency Management Agency bought the homes as emergency housing for victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.Katrina slammed the Gulf coast in August of 2005.Rita came ashore in southeast Texas the following month.The failure to protect the homes from the sun and rain while they were in storage was outlined in a report by the Homeland Security Department's inspector general.FEMA says many sat unused for months at an Army depot in Texarkana, Texas, because of restrictions on where such homes could be erected.A June inventory had nearly 18-hundred homes at the site.FEMA put the total damage to homes both salvageable and unsalvageable at five (M) million dollars.
You're right they shouldn't be sitting there getting damaged in any way but to mark them off as total losses is a bit exaggerated.
On the DHS webpage, type "modular" in the search blank. Scroll down three or four to the .pdf titled "Administrative report..."
Here is the information from DHS:
The Trimarro modular homes, however, have not been adequately protected from the weather during storage and have suffered significant damage. FEMA purchased “Pre-Fab Homes” from Trimarro Homes, Inc. of Dyersville, Iowa, for $5,415,0001. Unlike the Quick Quarters and the Cogim units, the Trimarro homes did not have protective containers. The torn and deteriorating remnants of tarps that we observed on the Trimarro units suggest they were once covered, but, at the time of our visit, they were uncovered and exposed to the weather. New staff have taken over the operation of the Texarkana site and were trying to cover the modular homes with tarps. FEMA officials advised us that tarps have been replaced several times because temperatures at Texarkana often exceed 100 degrees and the UV sunrays and rain had destroyed the tarps. However, the damage has already been done. The cardboard containers for the components, such as toilets and fittings, have deteriorated in the open weather and some of the framing and wood components of the structures have warped and may not be salvagable. In addition, the contents and components of some of the modular homes were disordered and re-sorting the components to form complete units may be necessary. FEMA officials said that the disorderliness was due to the manufacturer’s packaging. They said that neither a manufacturer’s representative nor a FEMA contracting official was present during the delivery of the components.
Many of the Trimarro modular homes were damaged beyond economical repair and will have to be written-off. In discussions with FEMA logistics officials, they concurred with our assessment and estimated that only about 75% of the Trimarro modular homes can still be used, which would translate into approximately $1.25 to $1.5 million worth of Trimarro modular homes lost to damage during storage.
The DuraKit modular homes were also damaged. FEMA purchased “Pre-Fab homes” from DuraKit Shelters of Bradford, Ontario, Canada for $13,005,000.2 Although more tightly packaged than the Trimarro homes, the DuraKit homes were not shipped in protective containers. The DuraKit homes were once covered with tarps, which have since deteriorated and blown off, leaving the units exposed to the weather and susceptible to damage. The extent of the damage and suitability for repairs will become clear when the homes are assembled. On July 27, 2006, FEMA logistics officials estimated that 85% of the DuraKit modular homes can still be used. Thus, FEMA may have lost about $1.75 to $2.0 million worth of DuraKit modular homes to damage during storage.
FEMA’s modular homes were not properly protected, as we recommended, and as a consequence, the losses may amount to $3 to $4 million. FEMA officials correctly pointed out that loss estimates are speculative until the construction of the homes is attempted. FEMA logistics officials told us that most modular home units are shipped with the expectation that they will be assembled when they arrive at their destination. Once they are assembled, the structure of the home protects the components from the elements. FEMA logistics officials told us that storing the units outside, covered with tarps, was not effective, especially with the storms, rain, and flooding that Texarkana has experienced while the modular homes were stored there.
That wrap is not meant to be a permanent solution! It will last some time, but not forever.
There are lots of reasons why these homes just stood empty and that's a shame. Government, state, local, federal, all of them, seem to do a great job of wasting our hard earned tax dollars.
"If these are modular homes, they come in 2 sections, one side would be open and covered only with plastic. They don't get put together until set on property and closed up. It is most possible that they were damaged by sun and rain."
You're right on the money. I saw a report on the news and that's exactly what happened.
I just wanted an excuse to use the line from the movie, Cars. The kids have been playing the video here non stop.
They are selling them now on www.gsaauctions.gov for the amazing bid of $752,000 they are posted as item #71FMPI07275001 in Texas. Amazing!
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