Next time, let them use tents
Is anyone as ticked off as I am at the Federal Emergency Management Agency for withdrawing its support of the RV and manufactured housing industries?
Late last week, some ambulance chasing attorneys — likely on a summer holiday from pursuing bogus claims against implant makers and tobacco companies – filed a lawsuit against a dozen RV manufacturers for their role in producing emergency housing units that contained formaldehyde.
According to the RV Dealers Association, formaldehyde is a common chemical found in smog, cigarettes and other tobacco products, gas cookers, and open fireplaces, manufactured wood products used in new manufactured homes, fiberglass, carpets, permanent press fabrics, paper products and some household cleaners. Even the human body naturally produces formaldehyde.
Yet RV manufacturers and dealers are being slandered in the media and by attorneys in a way that portrays them as money-grubbing companies that willingly made people sick in their mad rush to profit from one of America’s greatest tragedies.
Isn’t it ironic that the RV industry has been providing emergency housing to families impacted by hurricanes, tornadoes and floods for decades and only until a major storm hits a population of hereditary freeloaders does the formaldehyde issue really become an issue. The speed was staggering in which Louisiana residents gobbled up more than $6 billion in federal aid, countless millions in charitable donations and, don’t forget the credit cards used for hair stylings and gambling trips.
When Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Louisiana coast, the RV industry responded in a powerful, mighty and honorable way. Within hours of impact, dealers from around the country were marshalling their available inventory and shipping RVs to the affected area. In fact, many units dispatched to the Gulf Region were laden with other essential items like food, toilet paper, water and even portable generators donated by citizens and small business owners everywhere.
Yes, it’s true many RV dealers profited from the tragedy. It’s also true that a few profited greatly. But dealers also sacrificed a great deal of their time and treasure to come to the aid of their fellow Americans. Knowing replacement units would be tough to get, they often sacrificed their complete inventory to help others in need – even if it meant they didn’t have units in stock to keep their own staffs employed in the months ahead.
Manufacturers were no different. Many pushed aside paid customer orders to rush units through the assembly lines as quickly as humanly possible. The goal, after all, was to provide immediate, emergency housing for children, the elderly and common, ordinary folks who were quite down on their luck.
The manufacturers amassed huge quantities of materials from their supplier partners, which also stepped up to the plate to accommodate the rush orders. The humanitarian aid project required lumber, plywood, electrical wire, plumbing, carpeting, varnish, sealants, windows, doors, cabinets, glue and many other essential construction materials.
Employees at manufacturing facilities and supplier firms sacrificed time with families to put in extra hours to rush homes to people without any. In many cases the paint dried on the freeway as thousands of trailers were dispatched to the Gulf Region every week. The need for housing was so great that people were often living in the units 72 to 96 hours after they rolled off assembly lines.
Imagine painting an entire home, gluing together all the cabinets and counters, and laying down new carpet on Tuesday just so a family of four could move in full-time on Friday. Do you think the building would stink? Do you think the people inside might get a little loopy from the fumes?
Of course the emergency housing units smelled. But, the need for housing was so great the trailers didn’t have the luxury of sitting on a manufacturer’s or dealer’s lot for a few weeks to allow the fumes to dissipate.
The same idiots who couldn’t board busses to leave the area in light of imminent warnings of a life-threatening hurricane, also chose to ignore written and verbal directions to open the windows inside their free units to allow the fumes to vent. Rather than spending time outside the emergency home helping others clean up debris, they chose to remain inside watching TV news coverage of the disaster and using their free cell phones to call government agencies begging for more immediate relief.
According to the RVDA, Dr. Lee Shull investigated the formaldehyde problem for the industry. His report references federal testing which shows that simply opening windows for ventilation for four days reduced formaldehyde levels in closed FEMA trailers to below the 0.3 ppm level which is considered safe for even the most sensitive individuals, like as asthmatics.
Yet a gaggle of damnable attorneys living in their multimillion dollar mansions and working from high rise offices miles away from any real tragedy are trolling for victims in the streets of New Orleans. Promising a big payout to people with an insatiable greed, these loathsome legal louts are seeking to punish the very people who sacrificed so much to help their unappreciative clients.
And the spineless Bush administration silently stands on the sidelines watching as attorneys and the media rip into the very industry that stepped in to make up for the lack of planning and gross dereliction of duty demonstrated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the days following the disaster.
If Congress had any inclination of ever doing the right thing, they’d immediately pass legislation preventing the federal courts from becoming involved in this type of tripe. But don’t hold your breath – half of Congress consists of lawyers. Consequently, they’re planning hearings to investigate the RV industry’s allegedly deplorable lack of concern for the safety of people living in units it produced.
To add insult to injury, FEMA announced over the weekend it would never again use manufactured homes and recreation vehicles as emergency shelters in future disasters. That position was a slap in the face to an industry that has done a great deal of good for thousands of people suffering from similar disasters in the past. It also lends credence to the lawyer’s arguments that the RV industry was somehow culpable in willingly providing “dangerous” homes as quickly as they could at a cost that wouldn’t bankrupt those American taxpayers intelligent enough to know when to seek shelter as a killer storm approaches.
FEMA’s snub of the RV industry is an abomination to which I say, “Fine, next time use tents.”
I’m sure a family of four will fit comfortably into a 75-square-foot dome tent with little difficulty. After a few weeks of adjustment, they’ll make fine homes for six months to two years until a permanent solution can be achieved. At least they won’t stink or make people sick, unless the fabric gets moldy or the lack of heating and appliances forces people to burn propane ovens inside the structures. I’m sure the 2.5-mil nylon taffeta sidewalls will provide ample protection from the elements and a solid barrier to all the noise in the “neighborhood.”
In my area, Farm and Fleet has a sale this week on domed tents. FEMA could buy a whole bunch for $89.95 each. They won’t have indoor plumbing, nor any type heat, vents, fans or electricity. But they’ll be formaldehyde free, which of course, is the most important thing people apparently want in emergency housing.
Then, as the tenters commingle in makeshift campgrounds as they wait for government agencies to provide more bailout money, maybe the sound of tent material flapping in the breeze will drown out the pathetic sound of ungrateful freeloaders flapping their gums and drumming up legal schemes with their profiteering antagonists.
September 6th, 2007 at 5:00 pm
Greg excellent job! I was in New Orleans in 2002 and I made the comment that this city needs a giant enema. Well I turned out to be a prophet. We flushed “the you know what” into our trailers. It’s unfortunate these low lifes are to lazy to move to Elkhart and Goshen and be a part of the American Dream. Instead they spent there last free nickel on alcohol, cigs, pull-tabs and the lottery and have no where else to turn. I am sure the legal leaches will make them our problem for a long time.
August 21st, 2007 at 11:18 am
Well said Gene, and I couldn’t agree more. This is not a time for RVIA, RVDA, or the RV industry to sit idly by and hope that this issue quietly goes away. That simply isn’t going to happen when you have FEMA and lawyers taking shots at an industry that can ill afford any negative criticsm or lawsuits surrounding the industry’s response to a national emergency, and FEMA’s incompetence in dealing with that tragedy.
August 21st, 2007 at 9:23 am
Thanks to all who have taken the time to express their feeling re: this issue. Nothing builds enthusiasm like a little controversy.
However, I have noticed one common thread in all of the responses and that is the lack of first hand knowledge by a contributor. I wonder if anyone has taken the time to actually go to the Gulf Coast and see how that TTs are set up (under FEMA’s guidance?)?
The conditions are pathetic. Not one of the areas where folks are living would pass for a Camp Ground. In fact, most of the areas where the TTs are parked are little more than soggy swamps.
I submit that very few, if any, of the folks living in a TT were ever advised as to what should be done to ensure that fresh air, etc. should be available.
Now this is not the fault or the TT manufacturers who furnished units in response to FEMA’s request. And further, I doubt that anyone, even FEMA, bothered to tell the RV industry that the units they built would be used for “extended” periods by individuals who did not know, or maybe care, how to take care of their new home.
In addition, I submit that now is the time for RVIA to get involved in full force. How about calling upon some of the RV Industry engineers, etc. and have them go to the Gulf Coast and perform a good technical survey of the TTs. If this were done pronto, we would all have some factual data to hang our collective hats on.
Without some back up data, we are all open to criticism that is not needed. What is needed at this time is a good offense.
August 20th, 2007 at 5:47 pm
Your blog is right on target Greg. It is truly a sad senario when someone like the RV Industry steps up to the plate to help out the less fortunate in a desperate situation only to find themselves portrayed by the media as the villan in the end. My Question is this — Why is FEMA not named as a responsible party in this legal three ring circus? Did someone hold a gun to their head and and force them to take these trailers? As I look at it the RV Industry needs to prepare to be hit by a couple of “natural disasters” on the horizon —– greedy lawyers and a one sided media.
August 20th, 2007 at 4:13 pm
I AGREE, LET THE LAZY BUMS SLEEP IN TENTS. ALSO IN THE PAST 9 YEARS I’VE HAD BREAST CANCER AND LEUKEMIA. WHO CAN I SUE? WHAT’S TO SAY THOSE PEOPLE WOULDN’T HAVE GOTTEN SICK ANYWAY!
August 17th, 2007 at 10:43 pm
Could it be some of the dealers and manufactures eat from the trough that another S–t in. It seem’s that alot of blame for poor use of chemicals,are being directed to the lowest person on the RV sales food chain.
With the treatment I experenced on warrenty on a 2001 TT purchased in 2001 from one of the major manfactures,it might be time for some of those to get more than there snot in the trough.
August 17th, 2007 at 8:16 pm
As an R V Dealer selling R V for 45 years. I am appalled and mad as hell about the bashing that the the R V Industry is taking. Where is the R V D A when we need them? I am writing my congresman and senators about this matter and urge evey one involved in the R V Industy to do the same. If the SEMA trailers are so bad why are they being sold to Govt agencys in our area for emergency use? Those of us who make our living in the
R V Industry need to speak up and fight back and the sooner the better
August 16th, 2007 at 10:44 pm
Greg;
Once again, you’ve penned an outstanding article that hits the pulse of this issue directly on the head.
Do you happen to know if any of those people that are dealing with the formaldehyde issue, happen to smoke cigarettes (or any illegal substances) while inside those lethal units?
If those attorneys are really savvy, they can surely drag the tobacco companies in on this suit.
Did any of them spill any coffee on themselves while passing out from the lethal fumes?
Did any of them turn to alcohol to relieve the stress created by the fumes, only to fall out of a coach and incur bodily injury?
Did any of them fall out of the coach because it should have been equipped with an A.W.D. approved grab handle, but wasn’t?
Did any of this stress cause these people to abandon their normally healthy lifestyles and diets, only to consume so much greasy, unhealthy food that they are looking at new health problems?
Did any chiropractors get involved because they had inferior mattresses in these coaches?
Speaking of the bedroom, have any of them experienced any loss of companionship because the formaldehyde was more lethal than the stench of their mate(s), thereby making it impossible to procreate?
Any vision problems from watching a 72″ Plasma TV from just 36″ away?
Thank God none of these coaches were manufactured with the “deadly” gray water lines from years ago.
This whole thing makes me sick!!
August 16th, 2007 at 2:51 pm
Call me a hardnosed old reactionary, but why oh why is it government’s responsibility to bail everyone out? When I was growing up, the schools and my parents in particular stressed that it would be my job in life to take care of myself and handle any disasters to befall me. That’s why we buy insurance policies. If a tornado levels my home tonight, the last place I’ll look for help is the govt. Witness FEMA–they’d screw it up royally if I did. They didn’t even want to provide some of the 10,000 plus trailers they’ve been storing in Hope, AR, for two years at a cost of $25,000 per month when there was a tornado earlier this year about 50 miles from Hope.
I realize we can’t just throw people to the wolves; they’d just steal enough to survive anyway, but there ought to be some common sense involved. Like an as-is, where-is agreement when one signs up for a free trailer. I’ll agree with at least one thing you said, Greg, if someone doesn’t want a new stinky trailer, then give’em a tent to run with.
And it’s certainly no surprise some shyster lawyers are trying to jump aboard the gravy train.
August 16th, 2007 at 9:44 am
Greg I certainly agree with the jest of your editorial….I’m from Kansas and the stories about how fast the Greensburg tornado victims cleaned up their own properties……without someone from Washington coming to help……is how things get done properly.
But there was one small sentence in your missive that I just can’t agree with…..claims against the tobacco industry are not bogus. They lied to us for years and they knew they were lying to us.
Other than that, keep up the good work.
August 16th, 2007 at 8:32 am
Great story Greg but the fall-out is not just if FEMA will ever use trailers again. Because of the actions of FEMA we as Dealers are losing Sales every-day from all of the media HYPE. New customers are not buying !!!
August 16th, 2007 at 7:17 am
How is it that hundreds of thousands of employees build these very units every day and seam to come to work to earn a living and never get sick or complain about this problem?
August 16th, 2007 at 5:07 am
I have sent a copy of Greg’s blog, along with a note, to FOX News (Bill O’Reilly, Sean Hannity and Neil Cavuto) with the hope that one of these shows will pick up on this issue and slam it down FEMA’s and the lawyer’s throats. There are many of us, as evidenced by the great responses here (and those yet to come) that feel the RV industry must take a rapid, visible stand against this lawsuit and the people these lawyer’s represent. The RV industry did everything right in their response to the Katrina disaster, and thousands of people have continued to support and assist those most affected by this tragedy, and that hard work, dedication, and response should not be punished by a few people who see yet another opportunity to take advantage of the system and the very people that are the reason they are alive today.
I know there are more people reading this blog than responding, but we owe Greg a debt of gratitude here and hopefully more of you will add your comments today.
August 15th, 2007 at 9:42 pm
My hat’s off to you Greg. No one could have said it better, or with anymore passion. This should be a Press release all over the nation. Natural God given senses should tell people to open windows, and get fresh air, but we do live in a sue happy society. Ever since Eve, and Adam passed the buck, and didn’t take responsiblity for what they did, it has always been someone elses fault. I will pass this great piece of writing around. I only hope other readers will also. If we don’t we’re just as guilty for not taking a stand. I’ve always been taught, it you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything! Sick-em Greg!
August 15th, 2007 at 2:53 pm
What happened with the disaster was very unfortunate and to those that were involved in helping those in need, I applaud you. I look at it like this, If it was me in that situation would I want the help that was given? I would and I’m sure that anyone put in that situation would. I am very discouraged with F.E.M.A. having a political mindset about the situation and using the people that worked hard to help those in need as scapegoats. It is a what can you do to advance yourself world that we live in and that is were the lawyers are getting involved. They want to advance themselves. What if this world was concerned about what can I do to help someone else? We do it in many ways in the R.V. industry but at the same time there are those that just want to advance themselves here as well. I have been in the R.V. game for about 8 years and in customer service most of my life and the results are the same. If you try to help people, they will burn you about 90% of the time. It is the 10% that we actually make a difference for that keeps me doing what I’m doing. If we helped ten percent of those people from being homless with their families and they were truly appreciative, it was worth it. We,as an industry, have to keep from being slanderd by the media and the lawyers, but keep our humanity in the fact that if something else were to happen, God forbid, would we want our loved ones to be in a tent?!
August 15th, 2007 at 12:48 pm
I’m betting that Jimmy H is correct in his assesment of the people of the New Orleans and coastal area, however, I don’t believe that the above and below condemnations are directed at the good , hard working folks who got hit by the storm. I’m also willing to bet that these good people , for the most part, are well on their way to being back on their feet. We all know from our business dealings that there is an element of our society that feel that the rest of us owe them a living. There are still thousands of those people still living off of the workers. The unscrupulous lawyers are courting that element and they will succeed in their efforts to seduce them into this frivolous legal endeavor and probably will win even more concessions from the public and private sectors. For some people , the more you do for them , the more they demand.
The Fairy tale about the good Samaritan pulling the thorn out of the lions foot is just that - a fairy tale. In real life , the lion will eat you when you get close enough. The RV industry can learn a valuable lesson from this fiasco.
August 15th, 2007 at 12:36 pm
Kudos to you Greg on writing what we all knew before. Having been in the industry since 1974, and also having owned and worked at a Dealership that was established in 1964, this was our cure for stink. We would close the windows, turn the heat to high and let it heat for a couple of hours, then shut the furnace down and open the windows to ventilate the unit. Of course all units did not have a problem, probably because fumes were alleviated or even eradicated because of longer time sitting after manufacture. Greg for President, no, we would miss his candid opinions we all wait with bated breath for. To contact all involved via our government is our solution. Till then fellow RV Americans, remember what we did to help our fellow Americans, is what the true RV Spirit is about. And when America is in need for lodging for its people, those involved will have forgotten, and we graciously will assist their wants and needs.
August 15th, 2007 at 12:08 pm
Boy, there sure is a lot to agree with here…and more than one side of the issue. Jimmy H. brings up some very good points from someone living there…who can disagree with Jim, when me mentions the “Victim” society we seem to be living in…and Harvey Howells puts a great bottom line on the entire issue! But, like Wolfgang mentions, where the heck is RVDA, etc., in all this? And no one can disagree with Greg here!
But, what I can’t wait to see is, when the next major hurricane or natural disaster happens, where is FEMA going to find all those empty apartments for the “displaced persons” to live in? And, if I happened to own just an average apartment complex, would I want to thrown out long term tenants for short timers…and possibly be turning my complex into a HUD Project at the same time? Could you even try to imagine what we would all be hearing on the news everynight from people living in New Orleans, if they had been living in tents for the past two years?!?
As a person involved in RV Rentals since 1981, I’ve had a number of customers due to natural disasters. Only two during that time, Hurricane Katrina and Andrew (in South Florida) were of this level (and South Florida without the Lousiana corruption recovered much faster). Almost every other event location like this, had a much shorter recovery time period…months, not years! Do you really think FEMA might not reconsider about the use of RV’s for future events?
And just one more thought. Maybe, just maybe, the RV manufacturers of this country and Mexico (wouldn’t want Fleetwood to think I wouldn’t want to include them), should get together and create a true product that they can produce…that would hold up under severe wear like this…and could still be used as a real RV after the long term use…that dealers would have a real interest in purchasing to resell?
They could create 2-4 different floor plans to handle different size families…that would have some real retail appeal after the long term rental. Can not 20 different manufacturers build 1,000 units faster than 1 or 2 building the same amount? Could not the same manufacturers come up with a common price…heck yes, they just have to have the motivation. And, before any one asks about price fixing, our government does it with other items they purchase all the time…and the use of a bid system is not an issue…just ask our Department of Defense about Halliburton…if it works for them, why not FEMA and why not our industry?
August 15th, 2007 at 11:39 am
I understand that a lot of people sacraficed time, money, blood sweat and tears to build these units for the victims. But our goverment has let all of us down again, not only did they buy to many units they did not use them all. Also the really hurt the small and medium sized dealers when they started to sell them for pennies on the dollar to the general public. My sales on towables is down 80% from last year and it continues to slide. I wish the goverment would buy all the units back and destroy them so no one has to live in a sub standard built unit. An we all know in this industry these units were not built like the ones you see on the RV lots today. Its not the manufactures fault the goverment knew what they were getting and added a time crunch to get them built. We are a small dealer trying to make a homest living and you can’t when all these units are out there to be sold and people are buying more than one at a time. The goverment should have only let dealers buy them for pennies on the dollar and fix them up for resale. I feel sorry for any one who bought one of these under built units and I have seen enough of them come thru our town and can see that they were not well built.
August 14th, 2007 at 4:25 pm
As someone who lives in the New Orleans area and has worked at RV dealerships for the last 10 years, let me give you my perspective. Please do not paint everyone in this area with the same brush. Are there some people who who will jump into the lawsuit to make a quick buck? Yes. Are there some people who do not want to help themselves? Yes again, but these are the same people who did nothing for themselves before the storm. There are plenty of good people who, by no choice of their own, were thrust into a terrible situation and are finding it difficult to get back to “normal”. There are also people like myself, who lost everything they own and know, personal belongings, friends, community, church, etc. and yet we worked hard to get back on our feet. So please do not believe everything you see on the National news and pass judgement.
The lawyers that are pursuing this lawsuit are scum and are just trying to profit by playing to the ignorance of people.We in the industry know about the formaldehyde issue, but the general public is being misinformed.
August 14th, 2007 at 4:10 pm
ManoMan I am sure proud of the RV industires for coming the front lines this time ,,but I hope they don’t do it again,,I aggree with Mr.Gerber all the way,,and yes lets put him in the White House,, thanks
August 14th, 2007 at 3:44 pm
Kudos to you for the excellent article. The best of America once again beaten and stomped on by our own. Americans are so kind, generous, giving and when we need to we can accomplish anything. But here we are going after so many who worked so hard and then get sued and dragged through the mud. It is a wonder anyone in this country still cares about anything. Hopefully we will fight this and not give into the attorneys who see a windfall and to the lazy and worthless.
August 14th, 2007 at 2:51 pm
All I have to say is “Greg Gerber for President.” Can anyone even imagine at this point what it would be like to have an intelligent, fearless and outspoken individual leading our country…you can’t blame me for dreaming.
August 14th, 2007 at 2:43 pm
Right on, guys…. And my thanks Greg for finally getting this sad affair out in print. As for FEMA, I have had enough of them and their inept personnel to last me a whole lifetime. Within two weeks after Katrina destroyed the Gulf coast, I was on the scene on the Mississippi coast. Over a period of several months, I made many trips to the Gulf Coast to lend a helping hand. My time down there would not have been nearly as pleasant had it not been for having my RV on site.
As the volunteers began to get the area into some form of order, several RVers began to place some donated Travel Trailers on the concrete pads where once a house had stood. To the best of my knowledge, not one family who occupied one of the trailers that was setup ever complained about sickness, nose bleeds, headaches, etc. And, this was all done without FEMA oversight. We were working with folks who just wanted to get their lives re-established and were willing to help the volunteers do so.
As we all know, this is not the experience with the down trodden in the Big Easy area where the FEMA largees’ ran rampant.
It is a sad state of affairs that the RV industry is getting caught in the FEMA web. However, as I have been reflecting on this flap, I am let to wonder if the TT’s that the Industry supplied in response to FEMA’s request had a similar disclaimer that I found in my 5th Wheeler. That disclaimer very clearly stated, in large print, that “This unit is not intended to be used as a permanent residence”. If the RV suppliers shipped TTs to the Gulf Coast with out that disclamimer, shame on them.
The other fact is that no one had any idea that the TTs would become “long term” housing. That is a real shame.
In our area, the local State Parks became instantly filled with FEMA supplied TTs. Some time later, most of the residents of these TTs had left the area without taking the TTs with them. The TTs left behind could not be used for anything but to fuel a large bonfire. They were filled with junk. They were far from clean or sanitary. FEMA really dropped the ball in this case when they failed to follow up on the TTs.
I fully agree with Greg’s view and Bob really hits the ball. I would be happy to tell any Congressman who will listen what I think about FEMA and their ineptness.
August 14th, 2007 at 1:29 pm
Let’s calm down and think. The RV Industry should have known that we are in a “victim” culture and that these units were not designed to be “extended living units”. We all know that. We can rant about our high-minded desire to help, but, let’s face it, most dealers and manufacturers were after the money, in most cases charging FEMA full list price and then some. Yes, it is true New Orleans is a fine example of what socialism leads to and the corruption of Louisiana politians is legend, but at the end of the day, what we do is what counts, not what others have done. Personally, I think this whole issue is “much ado about nothing” but let’s not forget that when the RV Industry married FEMA, she was not wearing a white dress and the maids were there just for the booze, food and flowers. Now that the divorce happened, we must remember Louisiana is a community property state. There goes half the farm…
August 14th, 2007 at 11:42 am
You previous posters have said it all and so have you Mr.Gerber. To be sure you captured my thoughts and likely those of millions of Americans. Well Done! As for those attorneys.,..file suit they will and the “class” will get peanuts to be sure and continue moaning. However, and I hope this is the case, the industry has it’s chance to prove and dispell, once and for all, those nasty rumors about formaldehyde. I sold a lot of units when in business and never had a problem with this. We did have to “air out” certain units for a few days at times but once that was done…they never posed a problem. I’ve been in and out of them for 29 years…I’m 72 and healthy. Me thinks the lawyers will have a hard road to hoe proving their case. I also hope the rv industry does not respond to FEMA ever again! And me, I’ll scratch New Orleans off the map…none of my tourist money…ever again!
August 14th, 2007 at 11:20 am
Well written Greg. Clearly a great deal of thought went into this piece. You nailed it exactly!
Thanks,
Tom
August 14th, 2007 at 11:10 am
BRAVO…BRAVO..Mr. Greg Gerber !
You “PUT THE THOUGHTS RIGHT OUTTA MY HEAD” in you
article “Next time, let them use tents..”
You absolutely nailed the issues to the foundation
of the mis-led masses of Americans ! Even if all
your thoughts and observations are just..close..to being
an exact chorus of Katrina Housing events..the enlightening
“insight” of how THE HEROS OF HOUSING industries of the
Recreational Vehicle Industry and the Manufacturted Housing Industry reacted to the needs of the victims of the Gulf Coast the truth IS……both Industries will weather is attack by money grubbin vigilanties who want to line their 5th Avenue suits with “dirty money” from frivalous lawsuits..the targeted RV and Manufactured Housing Industries should send representatives to be on
THE OPRAH SHOW as soon as possible to show America what is going on in the legal circles of the GULF-COAST !
August 14th, 2007 at 11:10 am
I worked on Dutchmen travel trailers and 5th wheels for years in the mid 90’s and i got sick everytime i had to do a PDI on them. I wish FEMA would have stepped in at that time. Maybe i would have gotten an extra million dollars for doing my job. I am still in the RV industry and loving every minute of it. The issues FEMA is having now have been addressed with RV manufactures for years. The warning labels have been on units for years that i can remember. The factory workers should be compensated just as well as anyone in the USA and possibly tested as they are in them for 8-9 hours a day. Maybe they are the real victims.
August 14th, 2007 at 10:50 am
I read recently that a local group of volunteers went down to the New Orleans area last week to help paint and clean houses. Nearly two years of pain the rest of the country has endured to help people that won’t help themselves. If a tradegy of that proportion had hit the north the mess would have already been cleaned up and yes they would have opened the windows.
August 14th, 2007 at 10:14 am
Mr. Gerber: Well put.
I do find it interesting that people who actually PAY for travel trailers dont sue over fumes. Entitlement mentality at work?
August 14th, 2007 at 8:31 am
Nice blog Greg.
I guess this leaves one question open, at least in my mind….Where are the associations that represent our industry? Why didn’t they respond openly?
I applaud the efforts to provide talking points for those who demand them….but unfortunately that will never make it into main stream. Our industry is being slandered, and we just sit here and take it? Turn the other cheek?
Cheers,
Wolf
August 14th, 2007 at 7:04 am
Worthy of a Pulitzer Prize Mr. Gerber. I would encorage everyone to pass this along to at least ten people directly, or indirectly, involved in the RV industry and ask them to send it to everyone of their Senators and Congressmen/women. FEMA, of all people, is the finest example of ineptness and stupidity in our Federal Government structure and should be abolished, restructured, or organized with intelligent human beings from the business world, not government hacks who have never earned an honest days pay in their lives.
The RV industry is being taken advantage of here and the time to fight back is right now with your excellent “call to action” that so eloquently lays out our battle cry.
If they don’t like what we did for them that’s fine, but who are they going to call next time it happens. If the phone call comes and nobody answers, tell the idiots that failed to evacuate and the lawyers that barely passed the bar to check in with the local Wal-Mart to see if there are any tents left.
What a sad commentary on the people and process that allow law suits like this to move forward through the system. I guess the recipients were too busy checking their TV guide and opening their government handout package to see what other else was provided to them through the kindness of millions of American citizens that did what they could, as fast as they could, to provide comfort and support in their time of need.
When we cared for them, they quickly forgot and went back to their comfort zone and waited for the lawyers to drive up in their limousines with the flashing “GREEDY” light signing them all up for yet another big payday at the expense of the very people that saved them in their most dire time of need. What a disgrace.
If they want a fight, let’s rally the industry and give them a good one, then let’s turn our back on them and FEMA and sit back and watch what the next great idea is out of Washington for the next natural disaster that is compounded by stupidity, arrogance, and greed.
Sign me up as one who will pay my own way, take time off from work, and volunteer to testify in front of any government committee and hearing they want to have on this subject. Anybody else want to join me?