FEMA's response to mold allegations

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Lt. Gov satisfied with FEMA's response to mold allegations

By HENRY C. JACKSON | Associated Press Writer

5:44 PM CDT, July 19, 2008

DES MOINES, Iowa - State officials say they're satisfied with the

Federal Emergency Management Agency's quick response after reports

surfaced of mold in mobile homes provided to flood victims.

The state's Lieutenant Governor and Director of Homeland Security,

Patty Judge, issued an unusual 1:30 a.m. press release on Saturday

morning asking for immediate action from FEMA after learning that

some trailers had grown mold in areas near their water heaters.

FEMA has provided mobile homes to hundreds of flood victims at the

request of the state after record flooding during June left many

homeless.

But Judge said she was deeply concerned about the conditions that

flood victims were living in and issued a statement early Saturday

morning, along with a list of steps she expected FEMA to take.

" I am extremely concerned about this situation, " Judge

said. " Protecting the health and safety of Iowa families is Governor

Culver's and my number one priority. "

Judge asked that FEMA relocate Iowans who were living in the mold

infested mobile homes and place them in temporary housing at FEMA's

expense, begin inspections of all the FEMA mobile homes brought into

the state and remove all mobile homes with designs that were similar

to those that had grown mold.

By Saturday afternoon, Judge said she was pleased with FEMA's steps

to deal with the mold.

" I am very happy with both the speed and the manner in which FEMA has

responded to the issues raised late yesterday concerning mold, " she

said in a statement.

Judge said FEMA officials had already taken steps, working in

conjunction with the state, to address her concerns. She said the

steps included:

-- Informing applicants for FEMA housing of the situation

-- Encouraging those living in FEMA trailers to accept offers of

alternative housing while the situation is addressed

-- Removing from Iowa all of the mobile homes that are affected as

soon as possible

-- Assessing the situation through joint testing with the state of

Iowa.

A phone message left by The Associated Press with FEMA was not

immediately returned.

Judge said she would continue to work closely with FEMA to make sure

flood victims had housing and were treated fairly.