The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently resumed the Mobile Home Sales and Donations Program for Katrina and Rita applicants currently residing in a mobile home or park model unit. The Sales and Donations Program was placed on hold pending the establishment of an acceptable level of formaldehyde by the state of Louisiana, as mandated by the March 2008 Disaster Housing Plan. Louisiana has now set a formaldehyde level of 16 parts per billion for long-term use, opening the door for FEMA to resume sales and donations of the park models and mobile homes provided following hurricanes Katrina and Rita. FEMA staff will immediately begin contacting mobile home and park model residents that previously expressed interest in purchasing their units. All units will be tested for formaldehyde prior to sale and must meet the state of Louisiana’s required acceptable level of 16 parts per billion. The sales program is open only to applicants currently residing in a mobile home or park model provided by FEMA. Conditions of the sale include:

• All units are sold “as is” with no implied warranties of any kind.
• Applicants must purchase the unit in which they currently live. No substitutions or exchanges of units are permitted.
• By purchasing the unit, the applicant accepts all responsibility and liability for the unit.
• The purchasing applicant is solely responsible for any applicable sales taxes, permits, or inspection costs associated with the sale.
• The applicant must provide proof of hazard insurance for the unit.
• The purchasing applicant must agree to comply with the local floodplain management codes, including purchasing flood insurance if the unit is or will be located in a designated Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA).
• The unit must test within the state-set formaldehyde threshold.

For additional information about the Mobile Home Sales and Donations Program, applicants can call the FEMA Baton Rouge Call Center at 1-888-294-2822. For more information about formaldehyde, residents can call the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at 1-800-CDC-INFO.