FRVTA’s Kelly Indicates the FEMA ‘Ball is Starting to Roll’

While Florida counties impacted by Hurricane Ian adjust zoning regulations to accommodate temporary RV housing, the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) is reaching out to the Florida RV Trade Association (FRVTA) regarding availability of travel trailers.

The Charlotte County Commission has voted to allow residents displaced by Hurricane Ian to live in RV’s on developed residential lots for up to two years, according to a posting on the Charlotte County governmental website. The county code suspension took effect Nov. 4 and expires in a year. Published reports indicate Collier and Lee counties have take similar actions.

FRVTA Executive Director Dave Kelly tells RVBusiness that his organization has been contacted by a FEMA contractor.

“He told me he’s looking to buy anywhere from 200 to a thousand trailers that they’re wanting to get in place,” Kelly said. “So, we’ve sent out a letter of intent to dealers that had all the specs of everything they’re looking for – lengths, sizes, amenities and things the trailers had to have. They wanted to reach out to our dealers to find out what the inventory was and that they were waiting on word from FEMA to start buying. I haven’t heard of anyone (dealers) actually selling anything yet, but it sounds like the ball is starting to roll.”

Dave Kelly

Kelly, in turn, said it seems as if FEMA is approaching its response to this storm a little differently than in the past.

“They’re really trying to avoid the same mistakes that they made for other hurricanes,” he said. “They’re taking their time. They’re making sure that the people that are getting housing are getting it and the ones who are not needing it – that have second residences or other places to go — are not. It’s frustrating, I know, for our dealers sitting there with inventory saying, ‘We’re ready to help,’ but they’re just not going to make the same mistakes they made with hurricanes as recent as ’04.”

In previous situations, he added, FEMA was quick to “build trailer parks all over Florida” and then found that people – some of whom may or may not have been hurricane victims – wouldn’t leave. The parks fell into disrepair, making it difficult for people who were trying to continue working while repairing their homes.

“I’m encouraged that they’re actually taking their time to make sure the people that actually need help are getting it,” he said, also noting that some of the hardest hit areas – Sanibel and Captiva islands for example – are home to many second homes, vacation homes and rentals. Owners of those types of properties logically have somewhere else to stay.

FEMA this time around also is taking it cues from the state emergency management administration. “Instead of FEMA just coming in and taking control,” Kelly explained, “they’re really working with the State of Florida and making sure – before checks are sent, before people are put into trailers – that they’re needed and where they’re going to put them.”

Source: https://rvbusiness.com/frvtas-kelly-indicates-the-fema-ball-is-starting-to-roll/