PICAYUNE —
While the lots holding large numbers of FEMA travel trailers for sale in Pearl River County meet all city and county regulations, the trailers themselves most likely can’t be used as housing since they may contain high levels of formaldehyde.
There are several sites in and around Picayune that store large numbers of used FEMA travel trailers, and so far all of the lots are abiding by local laws concerning their storage.
Picayune Code Enforcement inspector Donnie Kellar said the sites in Picayune meet all of the city’s regulations. The site on Canal Street, visible from I-59, is located on property zoned industrial, which can be used to store the trailers.
There also are some trailers being stored next to D&M Lighting. That location also meets all of the city’s regulations. The owner of D&M Lighting, Dennis Lee, has the proper permits to sell the trailers, Kellar said. Lee said the trailers are former FEMA trailers, which were used to house people after Hurricane Katrina.
Since the city has no ordinances against the storage of the trailers, there is no deadline to have them removed, City Manager Harvey Miller said.
Mayor Ed Pinero Jr. said with everything about the trailers’ current location being legal, there is no need to change any of the city’s ordinances concerning their storage.
There is a lot along Mississippi 43 North near the new water well and tower. That site also houses a number of the travel trailers. Property owner Mark Gibson said the trailers belong to Lee, whom Gibson said is leasing the land. With no zoning regulations in the county, the trailers parked on Miss. 43 N. aren’t violating any laws or ordinances. Pinero, who is also the Pearl River County Planning and Development director, said as long as the trailers are not hooked to utilities, there are no regulations to follow, such as with trailer parks.
Once sold, the trailers can only be used on a temporary basis in the county, and not for housing. Pinero said since the trailers do not meet the safety standards set forth by the county board of supervisors, such as wind speed ratings, and tie down regulations, a person can live in a travel trailer for a maximum of six months before it has to be moved to a new location.
FEMA spokesperson Rachel Racusen said in an e-mail response that buyers of FEMA travel trailers are required to sign a waiver that the unit will not be used for housing. A notice is required to be placed on the unit to that effect. The units can not be resold in the future for the purpose of housing.
About a year after the storm, numerous media outlets reported that a number of FEMA travel trailers contained excessive amounts of formaldehyde, a potentially cancer causing agent. With the trailers now for sale to the public, FEMA has regulations that state the trailers are not be used as housing and that anyone who purchases them should be notified.
Racusen said in an e-mail response that the agency began to reduce the number of the travel trailers in its possession in 2006 and part of that involves selling the trailers through GSA auctions.
“Any individual or company who has purchased one of these units and is using it improperly is violating the law and subject to investigation and possible criminal punishment and penalties, including monetary fines or up to 5 years in prison. Any possible violations that are brought to FEMA’s attention will be referred immediately to GSA’s Inspector General for investigation. Anyone who violates these agreements — and risks the safety of others — must be held accountable,” Racusen said in the e-mail.
Attempts to contact GSA for comment on the number of trailers still for sale and how the notification regulation is enforced were not returned by press time Thursday.
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FEMA trailers for sale, are not for housing
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