Green Articles
FEMA is recycling materials from trailers
By Brian Friedman : Times-Picayune : February 03, 2008
A new FEMA initiative in Plaquemines Parish is helping the rebuilding effort and the environment at the same time.
Rather than ending up in a landfill, materials such as cinder blocks, water pipes and steps from deactivated FEMA trailers are being given to disadvantaged families trying to rebuild homes and lives in Katrina-ravaged Plaquemines.
Byron Williams, Plaquemines Parish public service director, said, "It's of great benefit because materials such as limestone, water piping, cinder blocks -- they can be expensive once the numbers start to stack up, so with FEMA giving these as donations to the parish government, that allows us to disseminate it to the families that are really going to need these types of materials."
These families can, in turn, use their money for other things, such as getting the power turned on in their homes or buying furniture, Williams said. "So this is a great gift from FEMA."
FEMA spokeswoman Gina Cortez said, "We are recycling these materials. They're going to be re-utilized, whether it's for repairs or for a new project, and that's the smart thing to do, the way we see it."
Currently, the program is focusing on the Davant Trailer Park, set for closure on May 31. The limestone will then be stockpiled and redistributed to help restore driveways.
A total of 4,666 FEMA trailers and mobile homes have been used in Plaquemines Parish since right after Katrina. As of today, 2,056 units are in use in the parish. Of those units, 381 are in FEMA group sites and 1,665 are on private sites.
Plaquemines Parish will distribute the donations through its Community Action Agency. Residents interested in the donated materials should call the CAA at (504) 297-5404.