There has been a controversy revolving around the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in regards towards its handling of Hurricane Katrina back in 2005 where it ravaged the Gulf Coast. On a side note, during the Democratic Primary race in Mississippi, the issue of post-Katrina recovery was on the mind of most of the voters that participated.
Back in mid-October, FEMA had conducted a fake new conference. Former external affairs director of FEMA, Pat Philbin, was supposed to become the public affairs director for the National Intelligence Agency. The week after the fake news conference, Philbin had lost his new job.
Around mid-February, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) released a report that the trailers provided by FEMA were toxic. The CDC had discovered that the trailers were giving off fumes with a high level of formaldehyde.
There were cases that stemmed from: breathing difficulties, headaches, nosebleeds, and so forth. The levels of formaldehyde present were at a dangerous level. Some trailers had levels 40 times greater than normal exposure levels. Formaldehyde is classified as a carcinogen.
June 1 has signified the start of hurricane season. Now as a possible last resort, the victims of Hurricane Katrina may end up being housed in trailers again. But, there are still hundreds of families still living in such trailers.
David Paulison, FEMA’s director has said otherwise. Paulison has put his foot down and said that there would be no more trailers as long he is in charge of FEMA. However, the deputy director says otherwise.
There will be a meeting this Wednesday to discuss countermeasures in preparation for hurricane season. The thought of using trailers again has already come under fire.