May 4, 2007

The Honorable Mary L. Landrieu, Chairman
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Disaster Recovery
340 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Chairman Landrieu:

We are writing on behalf of the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) to thank you for holding the “Beyond Trailers, Part I: Creating a More Flexible, Efficient, and Cost-Effective Federal Disaster Housing Program” hearing last month. While we are pleased that this hearing raised many issues affecting Gulf Coast residents, we remain concerned about the accessibility and indoor air quality of the trailers provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), among other things. We urge you to you highlight Gulf Coast residents with disabilities’ needs at future hearings and legislation.

The NCIL is the oldest cross-disability, national grassroots organization run by and for people with disabilities. NCIL's membership includes centers for independent living, statewide independent living councils, people with disabilities, and other disability rights organizations. As a membership organization, NCIL advances independent living and the rights of people with disabilities through consumer-driven advocacy. NCIL envisions a world in which people with disabilities are valued equally and participate fully.

As reported in “Dying for a Home,” The Nation on February 15, 2007, many of the FEMA trailers, which were manufactured quickly -- without the proper production procedures -- contain high levels of formaldehyde and other toxic vapors which has put children and adults at high risk of serious health and mental health problems.

Having a central office at FEMA would help to ensure the inclusion of issues affecting people with disabilities   Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2007 which amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act Many issues affecting persons with disabilities during emergencies such as this would be prevented and better addressed if there were an We are troubled that FEMA has yet to appoint a Disability Coordinator who would be responsible for disaster planning, interagency coordination, best practice development, and dissemination, training for first responders and coordination for accessible transportation. As you know, Public Law 109-295 established the creation of an Office of the Federal Coordinator for Gulf Coast Rebuilding, among other things.
We urge you to:

1. Call for the appointment of a Disability Coordinator to report directly to FEMA Administrator David Paulison;
2. Ensure that disaster relief housing meet current Environmental Protection Agency and Occupational and Safety Health Administration standards, and;
3. Request that no FEMA housing units contain formaldehyde and other toxic vapors.

 
More needs to be done to ensure that people with disabilities, including persons with hidden disabilities, such as vision and hearing loss, or Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, secure accessible housing in the wake of losing their home.

Thank you for your consideration. Please do not hesitate to contact Deb Cotter, of our staff at deb@ncil.org or (202) 207-0334 if we can provide you with additional information.

Sincerely,

John Lancaster                                            Kelly Buckland
Executive Director                                        President