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pig · 08-04-2006, 05:14 PM

flstf, I agree with you wholeheartedly, in theory. I would think that, if the underlying problem is addressed and the faulty trailers are removed or replaced, the issue should become moot. I've heard that there have been some extenuating circumstances surrounding this, including a gag order on the people living in the trailers that they can't speak to the media about this matter, sans FEMA rep, without repercussions. linky I think that sounds a bit fishy, but probably makes sound legal advice. However, I don't think FEMA should be made aware of such a problem, and then simply say "well, shit. open the windows." It depends on what happens next. for this part, i think that the level of product liability research which could have demonstrated the probability of such an event occuring beforehand would be relevant. was the rate of formaldehyde release, and its dependence on temperature and humidity, ever studied for the materials / products in question, and if so when?

However, that gets into the other topic which seems to be at hand in this thread - which is should FEMA replace the trailers, or say "tough luck. you can't live in this trailer for more than two weeks. after that, its considered a condemned structure and you will be prohibited from returning to it." i honestly don't know enough about the local situation right now to have an intelligent opinion about that aspect.

edit: i didn't mean to imply that i don't think that no one has liability. if the companies who manufactured the trailers misrepresented the product to the government, they are at fault. if the government was sloppy in its contracts, it is at fault. the people living in the trailers are not at fault, in the sense that they did not have any reasonable expectation to be given housing (however temporary or not) that would leach chemicals into the air that would prove to be toxic.

the rest of the discussion, concerning whether or not the residents in the trailers should be in the trailers is different. fact is, they have been allowed to be in the trailers, and the product appears to have some serious health concerns.

08-04-2006, 05:14 PM	#25 (permalink)
pig pigglet pigglet Location: Locash	flstf, I agree with you wholeheartedly, in theory. I would think that, if the underlying problem is addressed and the faulty trailers are removed or replaced, the issue should become moot. I've heard that there have been some extenuating circumstances surrounding this, including a gag order on the people living in the trailers that they can't speak to the media about this matter, sans FEMA rep, without repercussions. linky I think that sounds a bit fishy, but probably makes sound legal advice. However, I don't think FEMA should be made aware of such a problem, and then simply say "well, shit. open the windows." It depends on what happens next. for this part, i think that the level of product liability research which could have demonstrated the probability of such an event occuring beforehand would be relevant. was the rate of formaldehyde release, and its dependence on temperature and humidity, ever studied for the materials / products in question, and if so when? However, that gets into the other topic which seems to be at hand in this thread - which is should FEMA replace the trailers, or say "tough luck. you can't live in this trailer for more than two weeks. after that, its considered a condemned structure and you will be prohibited from returning to it." i honestly don't know enough about the local situation right now to have an intelligent opinion about that aspect. edit: i didn't mean to imply that i don't think that no one has liability. if the companies who manufactured the trailers misrepresented the product to the government, they are at fault. if the government was sloppy in its contracts, it is at fault. the people living in the trailers are not at fault, in the sense that they did not have any reasonable expectation to be given housing (however temporary or not) that would leach chemicals into the air that would prove to be toxic. the rest of the discussion, concerning whether or not the residents in the trailers should be in the trailers is different. fact is, they have been allowed to be in the trailers, and the product appears to have some serious health concerns. __________________ You don't love me, you just love my piggy style Last edited by pig; 08-04-2006 at 05:19 PM..