Help arriving with FEMA trailers

Tornado victims in Phil Campbell who lost their homes in the deadly tornado outbreak two weeks ago will finally have a place to call their own, even if it’s for a temporary time, thanks to the Federal Emergency Management Agency and local agencies.

Eleven temporary housing units were delivered to Phil Campbell over the weekend and should be ready for residents to move in by no later than the end of the week.

According to FEMA officials, manufactured housing is provided as the option of last resort in areas with limited available rental housing.

FEMA will not provide travel trailers or mobile homes to disaster survivors – even those who lived in mobile homes before the tornadoes – if other forms of temporary housing are available.

If a temporary housing unit cannot be set up on the applicant’s lot, it will be set up on an existing pad in a private or commercial mobile home park.

FEMA officials said the mobile homes and park models are temporary housing for displaced residents while they seek permanent housing or wait for extensive repairs to be completed. Those living in the units will have their cases reviewed each month to determine their eligibility for continued FEMA assistance. Survivors can live in the units up to 18 months.

Each unit is equipped with a NOAA weather radio and meets strict specifications for indoor air quality.