FEMA Ignored or Buried Formaldehyde Research
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.29.08
As John wrote last year, FEMA trailers seem to have been designed to optimize formaldehyde exposure. FEMA pooh-poohed the issue, saying that the trailers were safe if properly ventilated. Now congressional Democrats are saying that FEMA "manipulated scientific research in order to play down the danger posed by formaldehyde in trailers issued to hurricane victims."
FEMA "ignored, hid and manipulated government research on the potential impact of long-term exposure to formaldehyde" on Katrina and Rita victims now living in FEMA trailers, Democrats on a House Science and Technology subcommittee wrote in a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff.
FEMA took samples from unoccupied trailers that had been aired out for days and compared them with federal standards for short-term exposure, according to the lawmakers. FEMA officials instructed scientists at the health agency to leave out details about long-term exposure in its consultation.
"Honest scientific studies don't start with the conclusion, and then work backwards from there," Rep. Brad Miller said in statement. ::Star Tribune via ::SEJ
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What a shameful way to treat the victims of Katrina and Rita.
Who will protect us from the protectors?
Seems (to me at least) that this is just another example of a government agency being less useful than we're led to believe. Related would be the EPA; while they do some good, they seem to be a figure that says it does good more than anything else.
Those who depend on the govt are going to be disappointed. Capitalists, communists, and socialists seem to have to relearn this lesson over and over again.
Learn to rely on only yourself, and when you fail pick yourself up, dust yourself off and get going again.
HAS ANYONE NOTICED HOW GOVERNMENT WORKS AS COMPARED TO FEMA, HARD TO TELL THEM APART. ALL WAYS TO REACT INSTEAD OF ACT, TOO LITTLE TOO LATE, WHETHER IT'S NATURAL DISASTER OR ECONOMIC ONE. ISN'T ONE LOOKING AHEAD, MAKES YOU THINK THE "BIG THREE AUTO" WERE RUNNING THE COUNTRY.......
HAS ANYONE NOTICED HOW GOVERNMENT WORKS AS COMPARED TO FEMA, HARD TO TELL THEM APART. ALL WAYS TO REACT INSTEAD OF ACT, TOO LITTLE TOO LATE, WHETHER IT'S NATURAL DISASTER OR ECONOMIC ONE. ISN'T ONE LOOKING AHEAD, MAKES YOU THINK THE "BIG THREE AUTO" WERE RUNNING THE COUNTRY.......
There is a difference between "good" government and "bad" government. "Good" government holds people accountable for their actions or inactions, including government employees and private contractors. "Bad" government holds no one accountable, including those at the top levels. It's largely a leadership issue, not a "government" or "bureaucracy" issue.
It's amazing what the government is ignoring down there. I saw a great pod on Current TV called "2 Years in a FEMA trailer."
Anyway - check it out and then ask yourself how you can be happy with the job that the US government has done. It's embarrassing.
http://www.screamtobegreen.com/2008/01/fema-make-it-right/
-Jason
http://www.screamtobegreen.com