Gov. Perry Requests Transitional Housing For Hurricane Ike Victims

AUSTIN - Gov. Rick Perry today reiterated a request for temporary transitional housing for victims of Hurricane Ike in a letter to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator David Paulison. The letter emphasized that all temporary transitional housing must meet acceptable formaldehyde standards set by state health officials.

"More than 1.2 million Texans were evacuated out of harm's way prior to Ike's landfall and I want to ensure that those Texans are not put back in harm's way in unsafe housing," said Gov. Perry. "Every day Texans are displaced is one day too long, but we must ensure that transitional housing is safe."

Temporary housing units provided following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita were found to have unhealthy levels of formaldehyde, a natural substance found in both indoor and outdoor air that can become hazardous in large concentrations.

At the governor's request earlier this summer, Texas Department of State Health Services Commissioner David Lakey determined acceptable indoor air levels for formaldehyde in FEMA temporary housing units to be less than 40 ppb. 

The governor also asked Administrator Paulison to ensure that FEMA work with local officials to deliver transitional housing as quickly as possible to those who request it. Click here to view a copy of the letter from Gov. Perry to Administrator Paulison.

Additionally today, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst testified on behalf of the governor before a Senate Homeland Security Subcommittee Hearing on Hurricanes Ike and Gustav. The lieutenant governor gave a preliminary damage assessment for recovery from Hurricane Ike at $11.5 billion, and asked for federal reimbursement for 100 percent of debris removal for the next 60 days as well as 100 percent of housing and infrastructure.