FEMA buys RV trailers from Bedford dealer

BEDFORD - Heading south with a travel trailer during the Labor Day Weekend is hardly unusual.

After all, Labor Day Weekend is among the most popular camping holidays of the year.

Heading south with a convoy of 23 travel trailers ...

Well, that's no ordinary holiday haul.

Late Friday afternoon, Larry Root was awaiting word on where 23 trailers need to be delivered. The Federal Emergency Management Agency contracted with Root's RV to purchase the recreational vehicles for use in the relief effort along the Gulf Coast, which was ravaged earlier this week by Hurricane Katrina.

FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in March of 2003. Its continuing mission is to spearhead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident.

Root said he didn't know which staging area FEMA had in mind for the trailers.

"I'm not sure if we're going to Louisiana, Mississippi or Alabama," he said. "I'm just hoping they're all headed for the same place."

Root emphasized FEMA's purchases were all new travel trailers. The relief agency didn't want any used units or fifth-wheelers.

Root explained logistics is a dilemma for a number of reasons.

"We'll have to do some quick planning," he explained. "I've been lining up trucks and drivers to make the trip.

"We'll probably just take five trailers down that first trip. Since we can't be certain fuel will be available along the way, we'll take some with us. We don't want to get down there and run out of fuel."

In the aftermath of Hurricane Charley, which flooded portions of Florida in August of 2004, FEMA purchased travel trailers and mobile homes to be installed in commercial parks and, in some cases, on personal property. The trailers provided temporary housing while victims sought long-term solutions.

In the past, FEMA has required trailer sites to meet local zoning and building codes, environmental rules, and other restrictions. Trailer sites must be outside the flood plain, have functional water, sewer and electrical utilities, and be inspected by local and state authorities.