"FEMA Director R. David Paulison, Addresses National Congress of American Indians"

Native American Times asks Paulison key questions on FEMA mobile homes planned for Indian Country

A Special Report by Shelley Bluejay Pierce

11/18/2007

DENVER, CO- The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) convened for its 64th Annual Convention and Trade Show in Denver, Colorado this week. FEMA Administrator, R.David Paulison, addressed the membership at the general meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 13th. In his address to the group, Paulison outlined the changes he has made to the FEMA policies and the future plans that include more involvement from within the Native communities.

Native American Times interviewed Admin. Paulison in regard to the latest information revealed by the Buzbee Law Firm. Formaldehyde testing was conducted by two independent contractors on FEMA travel trailers and mobile homes FEMA deployed for use after the hurricanes. The Buzbee Law Firm is representing clients in the gulf regions who have become sick after living in FEMA units with high levels of formaldehyde.

As reported by Native American Times last week, formaldehyde levels were found to be high in both the FEMA travel trailers and mobile homes that the two independent firms had tested on behalf of the Buzbee Law Firm.

"The mobile homes revealed only slightly less than the travel trailers, though, on average, there really is very little discernable difference between the two type of units," Tony Buzbee, owner of Buzbee Law Firm told the Native American Times.

Administrator Paulison explained during the interview, "We know that we have formaldehyde in travel trailers. We are working with CDC to see what we really do have in the units. In regard to the other groups testing these units, I don't know who is testing or under what conditions and what tools they are using so I better depend on the really scientific data that we are going to get out of the CDC with their random sampling on travel trailers and mobile homes."

"We are going to be doing random testing on all the inventory that we have. If we turn up a problem in the mobile homes at that point, then we will address that accordingly. We are not going to put people in homes that aren't safe," Administrator Paulison added.

During his keynote address to the NCAI, Administrator Paulison included information about the FEMA mobile homes that are to be divided out amongst tribes using a lottery application system.

"In addition, we have focused on finding ways to use our resources in new ways. With the help of Congress, we decided to take the 1,000 mobile homes we were planning to sell and instead provide them to the tribes. More than 110 tribes applied for these homes and, with only 1,000 homes ready to move, we couldn't provide the more than 5,500 that were requested. But we did develop a system to get these homes out in a fair and safe manner and the letters announcing the awards should be going out in the very near future – with homes distributed within 30 to 60 days after you receive this notification," said Paulison.

Administrator Paulison later told Native American Times, "I wish we had more mobile homes to give the tribes quite frankly, because 1000 mobile homes are a drop in the bucket to what the reservation communities really need."

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) are in the process of developing new testing for the FEMA units that will broaden the parameters to include all indoor air quality rather than formaldehyde alone. In earlier interviews with Native American Times, Charles Green, spokesperson for the CDC, explained that the new testing would take into account the actual use and living conditions within each home. No date has been announced yet as to when the testing will resume on the FEMA units.

Native Times also asked Administrator Paulison for updates about the reservation communities in California who have suffered losses due to wildfires.

"We started gearing up and responding to the California fires from day one and sent a FEMA representative to stay up to date with the needs as they were coming in. Instead of waiting for this disaster to become a big deal and then respond, FEMA has attempted to be involved in listening to the needs assessment from day one. There are FEMA tribal liaisons assigned to assist the communities with recovery."

Administrator Paulison had detailed the FEMA response efforts to California wildfire victims in his earlier address to NCAI attendees.

"This approach is what we call 'Engaged Partnership' and it is guiding our plans and our actions. Since Katrina, FEMA has responded with you to more than 300 federally declared disasters. The California Fires saw our biggest response this year, but we've been involved in recent months with tornadoes, floods and hurricanes. And in each case the improvements at FEMA have been self-evident and I am proud of these results. FEMA's activities in Southern California in support of state, tribal and local activities provides a real-life example of the New FEMA's commitment to leaning further forward and to working in close coordination with our partners at every level," explained Paulison in his speech.

In addressing the current California FEMA response, Administrator Paulison detailed for Native American Times, how the past structuring in FEMA has led to current changes that utilize a new and more integrated system of managed response to disasters.

"We had a system in the past that I call 'sequential failure.' We waited for the local community to become overwhelmed before the State agencies stepped in and a wait for the State agencies to become overwhelmed before the Federal government stepped in. Obviously, that did not work as seen in the hurricanes Katrina and Rita efforts. So what I am doing now is to go in as partners. We want our agency going in from day one in support of the State agencies and communities so we can see what the needs are. We want to anticipate the needs and be prepared to act and not wait until after the State is asking for certain needs to be taken care of. There is a different philosophy inside of FEMA now," explained Paulison.

Native American Times asked Administrator Paulison about the long-term plans for reestablishing the victims of the hurricanes into permanent housing. Concerns have been raised for months following the rebuilding process along the gulf coast as to whether the housing needs were being met by FEMA so that residents could move out of trailers that have high formaldehyde levels.

"We put together a joint housing task force involving FEMA, HUD, state and the local communities that assists people in finding a place to stay. I have given authorization to pick up the rent cost by giving the housing authority down there authorization to pay up to 150% above fair market values for apartments. So we are doing that and there is about 810 families a week are moving out of trailers," said Paulision.

Paulison continued by explaining "We have some people who don't want to move. They like the location they are in and they don't want to move. So we are going to focus on the large group sites. 80% of the people living in trailers now are living in the FEMA units while their homes are being rebuilt. I think we have a good plan in place in working with the various agencies."

Native American Times will continue to follow the CDC testing schedule announcements and FEMA as the mobile homes are deployed into California fire victims as well as sent out to various reservations as part of the surplus housing plan.

Administrator Paulisons' the entire speech given to the NCAI may be found on the FEMA website http://www.fema.gov/txt/about/paulison/speeches


NTN Article: 9151