FEMA: Temporary Housing Ready for Sandy Victims
A parking lot at Six Flags in Jackson is serving as a staging area for mobile homes.
In an unused parking lot under the long morning shadow of a 130-foot tall steel roller coast, 40 outwardly identical mobile homes, each sitting on their own trailer, are ready for deployment.
As part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Temporary Housing Assistance program, mobile homes have been delivered from Cumberland, Md. and are currently being staged at Six Flags Great Adventure theme park in Jackson. As early as next week and assuredly before Christmas, officials said, the mobile homes will be dispatched to parts of Monmouth and Ocean Counties where they’ll house residents who have lost their homes to Hurricane Sandy.
And more are on the way.
“Most the houses here are for home owners who are currently rebuilding their primary residences,” FEMA Housing Supervisor Donna Weise said Tuesday morning. “The homes will be deployed depending on where the need is, and right now the greatest need is in Monmouth and Ocean (counties).”
The utilitarian mobile homes – plain, white and uniform in overall size and design – come in one, two or three bedrooms, depending on how many members a family living in one has. There are also homes for disabled residents that are covered under Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards.
Each new unit comes with a refrigerator and stove, some furniture, including a couch, table and chairs, and beds, and other basic supplies, like bedding and kitchen and cooking utensils and pots and pans. The homes have been inspected and cleared to live in and once a family has been identified, as well as a place to hook the trailer up, residents can move in.
“What these offer are basic needs,” Steve Minnick, FEMA’s federal staging unit lead, said. “It’s everything you need to get going after a disaster.”
Currently, the 40 units are comprised of one and two-bedroom homes, with 10 additional, three-bedroom units being delivered shortly. Weise said FEMA has the ability to bring many more up at a short notice – though she declined to say just how many mobile homes are at FEMA’s disposal – but that, currently, the need for temporary housing isn’t that great.
A recent report issued by the State’s Disaster Housing Task Force presented a bleak picture for those facing post-Hurricane Sandy housing prospects. As many as 7,000 residents, the report indicated, could be in need of housing assistance, and the potential for a housing shortfall in New Jersey was a possibility. Weise, however, said that’s no longer the case.
The numbers generated in the report came from data collected following other disasters, like Hurricane Katrina, and preliminary reports following Hurricane Sandy. The estimates in the report fail to paint an accurate picture of the housing situation for those who have lost or saw their homes significantly damaged during the late October super storm.
The mobile homes, along with the housing at Fort Monmouth – currently 45 apartments have been identified for Sandy victims with the possibility of more being opened up as needed – represent an option for those who have expended all other housing solutions. A vast majority of those impacted by Sandy have taken advantage of what Weise called a “robust rental resource” database and are utilizing FEMA's rent assistance to cover the cost of temporary housing. As of Tuesday, Weise said, FEMA has only identified a need for 130 units under the Temporary Housing Assistance program, though she noted that total is in constant flux as new applications come in and others fall away.
The units are designed for fulltime living and will likely be located at area mobile home parks with available pads. FEMA is in negotiations with a couple of parks Weise said, though she declined to say which ones noting that respective deals have yet to be finalized. Part of the delay in getting families into temporary housing has been finding a place to locate the mobile units. Though the mobile homes are typically eligible to be placed on a resident’s private property, FEMA is prohibited from setting up the mobile homes in flood zones, Weise said, which happen to be where most of the Sandy-affected homes are located.
FEMA has also made an effort to locate the mobile homes as close to the residents’ homes and their children’s schools as possible. Families are eligible to live in temporary housing for as many as 18 months, though Weise said on occasion extensions are granted, depending on the severity of the disaster.
Concerns that temporary housing may have been unavailable are likely unwarranted, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs Commissioner Richard E. Constable III said, noting that the State and FEMA are working in concert to ensure that all of New Jersey’s Sandy-impacted families have a place to stay, both shore, and long term.
“As we figure out how many we need going forward we will request more (temporary housing),” he said.
Mrgrumpass
3:12 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
I just wonder where these mobile homes will be sent my guess is one or two in Brick one or two in Toms River and the rest to ASBURY PARK I don’t think my prediction will be off by much, but I hope I am wrong, I live in the Baywood area of town and there aren’t too many homes with lights in their windows here!
Tim O C
4:31 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
sounds like Brick and Toms River both have slums due to low non union wages to me
Walter Cunningham
7:23 am on Wednesday, December 12, 2012
@Tim--the slums in Brick are from the public workers bleeding the taxpayers to pay for their overpaid salaries, lifetime free $$ and medical, and paying for "friends and families" who were such bad workers they couldn't find jobs in the private sector.
You know the deal, work for 20 years and collect the jackpot for you and your family for the next 40 years. It's the reason towns across this country are bankrupt.
gjc
3:26 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
And just why do you feel that most mobile homes will end up in Asbury Park? Does bigotry, even in the light of major disaster, never end? Shame on you.
Mrgrumpass
4:19 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
How dare you judge me, lets fire up that dim light between your ears, what town sucks us dry year after year, what town gets more aide from the Feds and the state, what town board of education always needs a bailout, what towns subsidized housing (Housing Authority) is always under investigation because they waste other taxpayers money? Now GJC you get the opportunity to guess what town I just described and then explain why this makes me a bigot???????
Bowie Thelonius
4:35 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
It's possible that they will go to those already receiving some kind of government aid. Unfortunately that's just how the system works.
gjc
5:34 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
When you talk like abigot, you deserve to be judged.This housing is for one purpose only - to replace unusable housing with usable housing caused by a storm. It has nothing to do with race, location, past subsidies, previous investigations or anything else a warped mind can think of.
NJarhead
10:25 am on Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Why is that bigotry?
pbturtle
4:20 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Your name fits you Mrgrumpass and happy holidays to you too!
BytheC42
8:24 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
My feeling exactly!!! What an ass!
bud
4:33 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Anybody know the status of the 330 housing units at NWS Earle in Colts Neck? They were in perfectly good shape during the debate for their use last year. The Navy wanted to use them, but Rep. Chris Smith and Freeholder Lillian Burry did not want any "po folk" in Colts Neck. Last I heard, the Navy was told to tear them down and the owner, a woman from CA, was to receive $50 MILLION for her lease!
Mesmerize
5:30 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
bud - I noticed a reader in another article said they were torn down, see the comments section here: http://longbranch.patch.com/articles/update-no-permanent-fort-monmouth-housing-for-sandy-victims
Mesmerize
5:32 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
bud, oh i also found this article, confirming the demolition last year: http://nt.gmnews.com/news/2011-11-30/Letters/With_mission_accomplished_group_disbands.html
I have spoken
5:53 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
The old crow Freeholder Lillian Burry lives in Colts Neck, that is why she fought so hard for those perfectly good apartments to be torn down. Those homes should've gone to disabled vets BUT NOOOOOOOOOO not one her watch.
gjc
7:37 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Lillian Burry is a fine person and representative. I disagree with your assessment.
I have spoken
8:15 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
@gjc
She's a corpse who forgot to lay down. She's a miserable old crow who out lived her usefulness. Monmouth County needs new blood.
Rick
9:19 am on Wednesday, December 12, 2012
IHS
If Ms Burry has outlived her usefulness and Monmouth County needs new blood, then maybe when she is up for reelection you should run against her. See who Monmouth County needs more, her or you.
Vito
8:04 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
gjc...Go figure, sure you do...you are probably another corrupt shameless politician or a supporter benefiting in one way or another. You are all going to riot in you know where.
gjc
2:41 am on Wednesday, December 12, 2012
It's very easy to call someone by ugly names. It's a lot harder to prove them. I'm neither a politician nor someone who has personally benefited by Ms. Burry's actions. I just happen to like her as a person and as a representative. And by the way, all the folks who have said nasty things about Ms. Burry, please reread the subject of this article. It has zip to do with Ms. Burry. So the next time you choose to shoot off your mouth on a subject that you know nothing about, please write your own opinion letter to Manalapan Patch instead of trying to horn in on another's letter or opinion article.
Mrgrumpass
9:31 am on Wednesday, December 12, 2012
GJC
Your still at it, your the self coroneted monarch of all who contribute to the patch your majesty! Dare we to state our opinion and achieve disfavor with you! From all of us who have been made homeless by sandy we bow to you in your ivory tower of the all knowing!
gjc
9:45 am on Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Everyone is allowed to express an opinion. Hoever, you may not make bigoted or racist comments in a public forum and not expect to be called on the carpet for it. If you choose to be a bigot or a racist, you may discuss it in private with like-minded individuals. I happen to like Ms. Burry. I didn't say anything negative about her or to others who didn't like her. I never referred to myself as a "self coroneted monarch." You put that label on me. You sound extremely bitter. But that said, I'm very sorry to hear that you are homeless from Sandy and I hope that you find suitable housing soon.
Mrgrumpass
8:05 am on Thursday, December 13, 2012
GJC
More condescending remarks from the self anointed how typical, to turn economic remarks into racist remarks! We will see where the majority of the trailers end up!
Vito
8:26 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
"ROT" you know where.
Michael reina
8:36 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Well iam a single dad with a daughter and we lost are home in ortley and we are currently staying in jackson temp....i for one would love to have one of these trailers set up in the east district ....so unles the bigots in this conv are gonna give me the xtra gas money and lost time i sacrafice to drive her to school and to work and to vol on her off time at libary as well as hospital etc .... And i can see by some of the comments that have been made we need to do all we can to keep the positive young minds in our districts.....so if anyone knows who i should speak to in reference to this it would be big help.
I have spoken
8:45 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Think real hard folks.....The formaldihyde in the FEMA trailers making Katria folks sick. I hope they cleaned them up?!?!
http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-500690_162-2819179.html
Edward Van Embden
10:03 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Yeah, all of these trailers are new and formaldehyde free.
Rick
2:51 pm on Wednesday, December 12, 2012
If they have carpeting and/or particle board or plywood in them they have formaldehyde. It is used as an adhesive in the manufacturing process.
In fact, that wonderful "new car smell" is the formaldehyde in the carpeting, but that dissipates very quickly.
Paul Schlaflin
9:21 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
This is a sham! 50 units and they talk like they are doing something. Reality, 6 weeks in and there are still seniors and kids living in wet, moldy housing without heat and no way to cook. But then again, there are still Katria victims waiting for help. De-fund FEMA now!
Walter Cunningham
7:30 am on Wednesday, December 12, 2012
You sound like the type of guy complaining when FEMA didn't show up if you needed them. Wahhhh.
wookfish
9:27 am on Wednesday, December 12, 2012
This is just the beginning just wait....when you put your life in the hands of the government you have no choice
Paul Schlaflin
9:30 am on Wednesday, December 12, 2012
No Wally, I live in Marlboro and only lost electric. I needed nothing, but I did spend the weeks after the storm at a soup kitchen feeding and listening to 100's of folks getting screwed by FEMA. You sound like a guy that doen't give a crap about anyone but yourself!
Walter Cunningham
9:39 am on Wednesday, December 12, 2012
I am not sure you understand what FEMA does as they aren't an agency that just hands out taxpayers money to people because they didn't have proper insurance.
Then again, you are probably still waiting on your free cell phone from O-bama.
Paul Schlaflin
9:43 am on Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Hey Wally, my bad, I see you're just a bitter idiot. Oh sorry, mentally challenged.
Rick
2:22 pm on Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Remember 2005 when Katrina hit New Orleans and surrounding areas? Two weeks after the storm, people thought FEMA should have everything straighted out. Michael Brown was forced to resign as director of FEMA.
Now, almost two months after Sandy the FEMA trailers are sitting in a parking lot at Great Adventure.
Gosh, what has changed in the past 7 years?
Rick
2:31 pm on Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Paul, You didn't lose electric. You lost electricity.
Electric is an adjective that describes something that uses electricity.
Linda P
10:07 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
My boyfriend, who is Ex Military (Veteran) honorable discharge who served in Desert Storm, and I (I am disabled and on SSD) and our pets lived in Seaside Heights, would love one of these. We were renters but the house is bad and we are having problems with the landlord so there is no going back to that house. We are currently set up and hour and a half away from our home and want to be closer. He missed a job opportunity because of being so far away because he doesn't drive. It shouldn't matter about race or income or anything except need and we need a place to live. We have no way of cooking since we only have a small fridge and a microwave and we have been away from 2 of our pets because of all of this. Give them to people who have the need!
brick strong
11:44 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
@bud..they paid her to go away...and the town didn't want the condos turned into available houseing ..because of taxes,schools, and traffic..The town killed the deal and Navy paid the price...
Rick
9:14 am on Wednesday, December 12, 2012
"You're doing a heck of a job there Brownie".
CCGG
11:08 am on Wednesday, December 12, 2012
FEMA is managed by Homeland Security, what do they know about humanitarianism?
The people we came in contact with we're a classic example of government people, scripted answers, and will never look you in the eyes while answering that question, and in most cases not accurate. The game is to keep us in the dark until the last minute forcing us to choose between " help " or " no help ".
PS, Thanks Toms River for kicking us out of the Arena before we had a chance to be helped. The Arena was never supposed to be part of the the school system.
wendy williamson
8:04 pm on Saturday, December 22, 2012
FEMA as been very helpful to me. I've met nothing but nice people, both the inspector and the woman today at the disaster recovery center. The people on the 800 number have been helpful. We want everything right away, but compared to the katrina victims, we have it made. The woman today at the DRC looked me in the eyes, was kind, made me laugh and i even ran in to her today at the post office and we talked. SOrry CCGG your experience has not been a good one, but I guess I'm one of the lucky ones. I may not have gotten every answer I needed or wanted exactly when or as I wanted it, but I am displaced. And I have been very happy with how FEMA has treated me and continues to treat me. Prompt calls, positive outcomes, I'm on the list for Fort Monmouth and it was an option offered to me. The very next day I received a call for my first interview regarding housing there. I will defend them always.
Rick
11:17 pm on Saturday, December 22, 2012
Wendy, It is nice to hear something positive and to hear it from someone with such a positive attitude.
wendy williamson
7:58 pm on Saturday, December 22, 2012
Linda, we're in the same boat as you, only we managed to get in to a hotel closer to our apartment. also fighting our landlord, it's unlivable (and we're fighting landlord who thinks it is, despite FEMA report). Ocean Place hotel has rooms 732-571-4000 and direct bill. You can bring pets too. They say there's a $100 charge but we've never been charged. It's probably closer to Seaside than where you're staying. We have a lot of Belmar folks here, also of course Sea Brighters. Also, we went to our local Disaster Resource Center today and they put us on a list for Fort Monmouth. Calling FEMA 800 # won't get you anywhere with regards to Ft. Monmouth and I believe they are putting people in there with regards to who lives closest for schools etc., but it's worth a try to go to your local disaster recovery center and try. go to fema and click on disaster recovery link to find your nearest one. meeting face to face is the best option and i wish i did it sooner than today. Also, I was told (today) that i had to apply (and get rejected) for an SBA loan before FEMA would help me further. I have much more debt than income (struggling author), so I did not qualify. If you don't qualify, your case gets kicked back to FEMA and they will help you again. I applied for the load because I needed money for a security deposit. But didn't qualify. GO TO YOUR LOCAL DISASTER RECOVERY CENTER>!!! GOOD LUCK. Hope this helps! : )
Margaret P McCord
2:41 am on Thursday, February 7, 2013
"Families are eligible to live in temporary housing for as many as 18 months, though Weise said on occasion extensions are granted, depending on the severity of the disaster." Well, I hope those homeowners are also financially recovering by now as it can be really hard to live in such a small temporary housing unit. I mean, it's not that I am thinking FEMA is not being helpful at all but the thought that you are living with your children in a temporary mobile housing unit just bothers me. I just hope that the government has better plans for these people.