Barbour: 'Katrina Cottages' could be answer to post-hurricane housing woes

Here are additional pictures of the Cottage.

Check out this informative website about Katrina Cottages.

WASHINGTON — Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour today asked congressional leaders to consider investing in a pilot program to install modular housing
on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

His remarks were among those of four Gulf Coast governors testifying during a Senate hearing today. The governors said rebuilding damaged levees and providing housing for thousands of displaced Hurricane Katrina survivors are among their top concerns.

Congress is considering how to divvy up $19.8 billion in emergency disaster aid proposed by President Bush, but not yet allocated.

"For many Mississippians permanent housing is far away because the new supply will not meet demand for several years," Barbour told the Senate Appropriations Committee.

"Modular housing designed like the 'Katrina Cottages' developed in the Mississippi Renewal
Forum provides a much better living environment for disaster victims," Barbour testified. "Occupants of a Katrina Cottage can use the cottage as a base from which to
build their new permanent home.

"I propose the Congress invest in a pilot program to install modular housing
on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Such a project would prepare the federal
government for the temporary housing demands of the next disaster and can
get 20,000 to 25,000 Mississippi families out of FEMA-trailers," he said.

Barbour said housing is one of the greatest needs in his state six months after the powerful storm slammed into the coast Aug. 29. More than 100,000 Mississippians are in 36,000 travel trailers and mobile homes, he said.

"We have installed temporary housing quicker than it has ever been done on
such a large scale, with more than 36,000 travel trailers and mobile homes
occupied by more than 100,000 Mississippians. But as many as 6000 units of
temporary housing are still needed," Barbour testified.

"In addition to the CDBG funds, we are dedicating
almost all of our Hazard Mitigation Grant Program allocation to rebuilding
homes in such a way that they will be better protected from future
hurricanes," Barbour said. "To better support this effort, I ask Congress to increase the
funding cap for this program from 7.5% of total FEMA project costs to 15%,
which had been the cap in the past."

He said under current law, "too many Mississippians will be trapped in FEMA-trailers, the government's
current default solution for temporary housing. These trailers are designed
and built to be used recreationally a few weeks a year; they are not
designed to be used as housing for a family for several years.

"The trailers do not provide even the most basic protection from high winds
or severe thunderstorms, much less tornadoes or hurricanes," he said. "In addition,
they are highly vulnerable to electrical and propane fires."

Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco said her state still needs $1.5 billion for repairing and improving levees that protect New Orleans and other areas from floodwaters.