National FEMA Trailer Tour

A press conference will be held in front of FEMA in Washington, DC on Monday, June 1st.  The press conference, which will kick off a series of advocacy and action through August 29, 2009, is an effort of over 200 allied organizations, including:

ACORN
Advancement Project
Advocates for Environmental Human Rights
Coastal MS Interfaith Disaster Task Force
Gulf Restoration Network
Louisiana Justice Institute
Mass Action for the Gulf Coast (MA)
Mississippi Center For Justice
South Bay Communities Alliance (AL)

Please stay tuned for coverage of the event, and opportunities to collaborate to ensure that the new Administration’s message of hope reaching the Gulf Coast this hurricane season.

For Immediate Release:

Contact: Sabrina Williams (Advancement Project) 202/728-9557 or 305/904-3960

THE FEMA TRAILER “EXPERIENCE”
COMES TO THE NATION’S CAPITAL

Nearly four years has passed since Hurricane Katrina and thousands of families in the Gulf Coast region lost their homes. Due to government inaction many of these families have spent the past four years living in desperate conditions—FEMA trailers. June 1st marks the beginning of the 2009 hurricane season and FEMA’s eviction deadline for those who have no choice but to live in FEMA trailers. The airwaves will be filled with messages about the importance of preparedness and the government’s continuing inaction.

A coalition of civil rights groups, affordable housing advocates, and Hurricane Katrina survivors are coming to the nation’s capitol to ask the question:  What has the Obama Administration done to fix the problems that Gulf Coast residents continue to endure today, whether still displaced or at home?  How prepared is the Obama Administration to deal with the ramifications and the devastation that poor displaced survivors of Hurricane Katrina are currently facing due to his inaction on Gulf Coast recovery within his first 100 days in office?

This is President Obama’s Gulf Coast now and nothing has been done yet to remedy the government’s failures.  Survivors of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita are calling upon him to show his commitment to the Gulf Coast by August 29 (Hurricane Katrina anniversary).  His actions will determine his commitment to the hurricane survivors and to other poor people of color who might find themselves displaced in the future due to another natural disaster.

The displaced residents of the Gulf Coast need the Obama Administration and Congress to:

•    Develop and implement a permanent housing plan;
•    Establish a preventive disaster recovery plan;
•    Pass the Gulf Coast Civic Works Act; and
•    Overhaul the Stafford Act. With UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement

Residents are fighting back! They are issuing a call to action and laying down the gauntlet for President Obama and Congress.

Who:        Displaced Gulf Coast Residents
Civil Rights and Environmental Organizations, Affordable Housing Advocates and other allies

What:       Press Conference

When:      Monday, June 1 – 11:00 AM

Visual:      FEMA Trailer

Where:      FEMA: 500 C Street S.W. Washington, D.C. 20472