FEMA sets up shop
Published 12:00 am Sunday, May 29, 2005
The next time disaster strikes somewhere in the southeast, or anywhere in the U.S. for that matter, people in need will look to Selma and wait for the help to arrive.
FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency) has reached an agreement with local officials.
They have opened the Selma and Dallas County Distribution Center at Craig Field.
The facility, a housing and distribution center for travel trailers, will employ up to 14 people.
The facility will send the trailers as temporary housing to areas hit by natural disasters or emergencies of any kind.
“It means that we’ve got somebody that’s gone into the industrial park and they’re fixing it up,” Centre For Commerce President Wayne Vardaman said. “They’re going to buy a good bit of hardware and supplies from local companies.”
The trailers can be used multiple times. FEMA spokesperson Mary Hudak said the facility could have up to 10,000 units.
“There’s no where near that many now,” she said.
The units can be sent out in case of disaster across the country and the southeast she said.
“It could be a national asset,” she said.
“I think it’s good for us, I think it’s good for them,” Vardaman said. “I think we’re sitting in an ideal position.”