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Feds Hid Toxic Trailer Danger

Refused to conduct tests even after a death

By Peter Fearon,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 20, 2007 10:32 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Some 120,000 Hurricane Katrina victims lived in emergency trailers for months, even though FEMA knew they were toxic, with formaldehyde levels 75 times the safety threshold, the Washington Post reports. Officials suppressed the the information and failed to order tests, emails show, because they didn't want to do anything that would make FEMA liable.

Even after hundreds occupants complained of illness and one resident died, FEMA didn't warn tenants, lawmakers investigating the matter charged yesterday.  "Senior officials in Washington didn't want the legal and moral responsibility to do what they knew had to be done," said California Rep. Henry Waxman, the Democratic chairman of the committee investigating the inaction..   

FEMA Director R. David Paulison speaks during the Florida Governor's Hurricane Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Wednesday, May 16, 2007. FEMA's neglect regarding the release of cancer-causing formaldehyde gas has been called sickening. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
FEMA Director R. David Paulison speaks during the Florida Governor's Hurricane Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Wednesday, May 16, 2007. FEMA's neglect regarding the release of cancer-causing formaldehyde...   (Associated Press)
Workers with the Unified Recover Group demolish a home in Chalmette, La., Wednesday, July 11, 2007. FEMA lawyers chose to suppress dangerous environmental concerns from their own workers to avoid potential liability. (AP Photo/Bill Haber)
Workers with the Unified Recover Group demolish a home in Chalmette, La., Wednesday, July 11, 2007. FEMA lawyers chose to suppress dangerous environmental concerns from their own workers to avoid potential...   (Associated Press)
Post-Katrina garbage piled in the street. FEMA has been accused of adopting an official policy of premeditated ignorance regarding clean-up health concerns.
Post-Katrina garbage piled in the street. FEMA has been accused of adopting "an official policy of premeditated ignorance" regarding clean-up health concerns.   ((c) Patrick Denker)
House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., delivers his opening statement during the committee's hearing on the diabetes drug Avandia, in this file photo. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., delivers his opening statement during the committee's hearing on the diabetes drug Avandia, in this file photo. (AP...   (Associated Press)
Some of about 20,000 mobile homes and travel trailers owned by the Federal Emergency Management Agency sit at the Hope Municipal Airport near Hope, Ark., in this March 2, 2007, file photo. American Indian tribes throughout the country will receive 2,000 unused trailers that were intended for but...
Some of about 20,000 mobile homes and travel trailers owned by the Federal Emergency Management Agency sit at the Hope Municipal Airport near Hope, Ark., in this March 2, 2007, file photo. American Indian...   (Associated Press)
House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., delivers his opening remarks during the committee's hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, July 19,2007, on the health problems of people living in FEMA trailers after Hurricane Katrina. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., delivers his opening remarks during the committee's hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, July 19,2007,...   (Associated Press)
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Toxic Trailers

House documents and memos on toxic trailer investigation
House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

 
Hurricane Katrina • Henry Waxman • oversight • FEMA • trailers • toxic • FEMA trailers

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