At RV Daily Report, I saw a story that Wheeler Rental and Mobile Home Sales in Oklahoma bought hundreds of FEMA trailers at auction and is now offering them for sale. According to KOFR.com, "A regional FEMA office spokesperson says the units now being auctioned have passed safety guidelines, regarding formaldehyde concerns which developed after Katrina." Some have never been lived in and are still in the original boxes.
Shana Wheeler, owner, says that they will fit in older mobile home parks where space is an issue. They have some on display at their business, others are advertised on Craig's List.
Better they get some use than deteriorate and fall apart on the airport parking lot where they were being stored. I do wonder how much the taxpayers lost on this whole deal, though. I'm sure the prices they got at auction were much less than what FEMA originally paid for them. Maybe they will get to people who need low-cost housing at a lower price. We can hope. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak
I have heard that there has been a lot of leaking and other things that have degraded these trailers. I would be very careful about looking these over well before I purchased one.
I don't think the formaldehyde would be a problem anymore as it would have certainly gassed off and dissipated after all this time.
These are only things I have heard, I have not personally seen any of these trailers.
Posted by: Eugene Thaden | March 04, 2010 at 08:08 PM
"Still in their original boxes." Cool! :-)
Posted by: Linda Hylton | March 05, 2010 at 06:56 AM
I would be leery too- even if they are in the original boxes! Trailers like these aren't usually made that well so looking carefully for signs of leaking or water damage would be essential.
Jaimie
Posted by: Jaimie Hall Bruzenak | March 05, 2010 at 08:05 AM