FEMA has announced it will be making mobile homes and park model travel trailers available to current occupants in the region. St. Tammany Parish urges residents to contact the parish before making arrangements to purchase any mobile home or trailer.

“If you are thinking about purchasing a mobile home, start by calling the Planning Department at 898-2529,” said planning director Sidney Fontenot. “We will gladly check the property location to make sure that your property is zoned for mobile homes. Until our new zoning codes are applied across the parish, most mobile home placements require conditional use approval. It is a good idea to go through the conditional use process before you agree to purchase a mobile home.”

St. Tammany Parish will not issue any approvals for FEMA park model trailer sales in St. Tammany Parish as of today. Park model trailers do not meet building codes and will not be approved for any use in St. Tammany Parish, including storage. “Building codes address life-safety concerns by regulating emergency escape and rescue openings, glazing in areas subject to human impact and exiting, stairways, ramps, landings, handrails and guard rails, fire detection by smoke alarms, exterior wall protection for proximity to property lines and control of fire spread across wall and ceiling finishes,” said parish permits director Denise Jobe. “The park models do not meet these regulations. They also do not meet wind velocity standards and may be a threat to public safety.”

There are approximately 2,000 FEMA temporary housing units in St. Tammany Parish at this time, down from a high of over 11,000. FEMA is working toward removing all units as soon as feasible.