Excess FEMA Trailer's for CAP use

[Nick]

I'm not quite as hopeful.  There has been a long history of various squadrons and wings setting up mobile command posts in vans or other vehicles, but for some reason they don't seem to "stick".  It could be that most of the time most Wings don't have real use for them except every 5-10 years.  I'm not saying that they couldn't be useful in certain standard missions in areas lacking radio repeater coverage, but the test of time seems to have passed a judgement on the concept. 

There's a way to fix that.  I've worked in some jurisdictions that do full ICS and EOC activations for planned events for the sole purpose of turning the system on and seeing if the gears work.  So, if your wing has a consolidated SAREX -- that's where you run incident command.  If you have a wing conference -- instead of getting the deluxe suite to run your "conference command post", use the trailer in the parking lot.  It might not be as cushy, but if you want to justify having the thing for the once in ten years you're going to use it, then -- you need to use it.

[Galahad]

Reading the terms and conditions, I wonder how many wings have a PU truck available that has a class-IV hitch with electric brake controller, leveling bars, and the PU is OEM-rated for towing 10,000 lb trailers?  That's getting close to gooseneck hitch territory.  Liability insurance is derived from the owner of the tow vehicle.  I guess that's OK if it's a CAP corporate PU, but not so good if you're using your own rig to help out the wing.

The T&C's also state "Brakes on these trailers have not been inspected. Brakes not working properly will need to be repaired at unit expense prior to departure."   Business could be brisk at the local U-haul store near Maxwell.

[RiverAux]

Now THAT could be a major problem.  I've never seen or heard of a CAP pickup truck.  I have seen a few big SUVs. 

[DNall]

There's a way to fix that.  I've worked in some jurisdictions that do full ICS and EOC activations for planned events for the sole purpose of turning the system on and seeing if the gears work.  So, if your wing has a consolidated SAREX -- that's where you run incident command.  If you have a wing conference -- instead of getting the deluxe suite to run your "conference command post", use the trailer in the parking lot.  It might not be as cushy, but if you want to justify having the thing for the once in ten years you're going to use it, then -- you need to use it.

That's certainly true, but I don't think these things are highly useful for mobile mission bases. The full on mission base is going to have some decent infrastructure already in place. That means they should already have a VHF at least & probably an HF radio. A couple more radios can be strung up if needed.

Where I'd primarily wna to use these trailer MCCs is in that FOB role. You have to have your own command & control anyway. The Katrina after action showed that, NIMS says so in the typing guide... lean forward with me on this. I think the place to put this thing (with sat-wifi, comms, planning/conf area, some bunks & shower) is right in the FOB next to the 6-12 GTs in thier tents. Slide out the awning, set up a table & some chairs, bust out the laptop, now you're sharing SDIS & ARCHER take with the couty emergency mgr that's getting his first real look at his jurisdiction. That's engaged & mission generating helping the responders on the gtound that need what we can provide. Plus of course bringing down all that intel to brief your GTs before they go out & debrief them when they come in (hopefully they're taking pix also that can be emailed out at the end of the day with captions & such.

[DNall]

Now THAT could be a major problem.  I've never seen or heard of a CAP pickup truck.  I have seen a few big SUVs. 

There's some suburbans & what not that can do it, but would need some towing heavy package mods. It's mostly going to be member owned movement.

[SarDragon]

Now THAT could be a major problem.  I've never seen or heard of a CAP pickup truck.  I have seen a few big SUVs. 

CAWG has one for glider ops. I think it's a crew cab.

[mikeylikey]

I am shocked no one else her saw the Dateline NBC segment on these trailers!  The quick and simple of the story, which I will try to find online and post is that most of the 2005/06 trailers have wood products that were treated with formaldehyde and exceeds the national standard for safety.  It actually exceeds the legal limit in California, and California lists them on the "deadly cancer causing lists".  You will either need to get rid of the wood inside these trailers or wear masks!.  They also stink!

[Al Sayre]

Now THAT could be a major problem.  I've never seen or heard of a CAP pickup truck.  I have seen a few big SUVs. 

CAWG has one for glider ops. I think it's a crew cab.

MSWG has a Crew Cab Chevy pick-up also.

[JohnKachenmeister]

I am shocked no one else her saw the Dateline NBC segment on these trailers!  The quick and simple of the story, which I will try to find online and post is that most of the 2005/06 trailers have wood products that were treated with formaldehyde and exceeds the national standard for safety.  It actually exceeds the legal limit in California, and California lists them on the "deadly cancer causing lists".  You will either need to get rid of the wood inside these trailers or wear masks!.  They also stink!

"Dateline NBC?"  Aren't they the one's who put bombs in cars to make sure the gas tanks exploded on cue?  Sorry, but NBC, CBS, ABC, and the New York Times are just simply not credible sources of information anymore.

[Johnny Yuma]

Now THAT could be a major problem.  I've never seen or heard of a CAP pickup truck.  I have seen a few big SUVs. 

KSWG has a 2006 F250 4WD crew cab and tow package. Your wing's gotta ask for it in order to get it, friends.

[Johnny Yuma]

I am shocked no one else her saw the Dateline NBC segment on these trailers!  The quick and simple of the story, which I will try to find online and post is that most of the 2005/06 trailers have wood products that were treated with formaldehyde and exceeds the national standard for safety.  It actually exceeds the legal limit in California, and California lists them on the "deadly cancer causing lists".  You will either need to get rid of the wood inside these trailers or wear masks!.  They also stink!

Dateline NBC is about as reliable a source of news as the National Enquirer and California believes everything causes cancer.

I've yet to see a trailer that's sat for 18 months that didn't stink.

[mikeylikey]

A yahoo search gives a few articles on the FEMA trailers.  here it is
http://search.yahoo.com/search?&ei=UTF-8&p=formaldehyde+fema+trailers

also, a comical story about the trailers here
http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/693438/fema_painting_stove_knobs_red_in_trailers/index.html?source=r_science



So now NBC news is not credible?  Might as well rack them up next to News of the Force I guess.

[DNall]

So every one of the dif manufactures listed all provided treated wood for use in these that's beyond safe limits? I mean I can understand one bad batch going to one manufacture, but there's a bunch listed with many dif suppliers. That's just not legitimately possible.

I'd also tell you that while some trailers were poorly stored & maintained, that isn't all of them. You don't know what you're getting till you get there & don't know what you're going to do with it till you get it back & take a hard look at it.

Also, GSA has taken these over & is redistributing them. They're pretty on the ball about govt liability.

I'd be careful about tossing around accusations when you really don't know the facts yet. You should really wait till you can assess things for yourself.

[JC004]

It actually exceeds the legal limit in California, and California lists them on the "deadly cancer causing lists".

Everything causes cancer to the state of CA.  Says so on a lot of product labels.  Luckily I don't live there, so I won't get the cancer from using the product.   

[floridacyclist]

Where I'd primarily wna to use these trailer MCCs is in that FOB role. You have to have your own command & control anyway. The Katrina after action showed that, NIMS says so in the typing guide... lean forward with me on this. I think the place to put this thing (with sat-wifi, comms, planning/conf area, some bunks & shower) is right in the FOB next to the 6-12 GTs in thier tents. Slide out the awning, set up a table & some chairs, bust out the laptop, now you're sharing SDIS & ARCHER take with the couty emergency mgr that's getting his first real look at his jurisdiction. That's engaged & mission generating helping the responders on the gtound that need what we can provide. Plus of course bringing down all that intel to brief your GTs before they go out & debrief them when they come in (hopefully they're taking pix also that can be emailed out at the end of the day with captions & such.

Florida calls that the FCT - the Forward Control Team. basically a Forward Air Controller without the ability to call in airstrikes. Until conditions improve enough to allow tents, the RECON teams end up sleeping in shelters or L' Hotel De Chevrolet (or Ford as the case may be) or ideally a local member's house if any are available.

On towing a trailer, I've seen ratings from 7,300lbs to 10,000 for our basic cadet-haulers

http://www.intellichoice.com/reports/vehicleReport/vehicle_nmb/15255/section/specs/type/used/year/2005/make/Ford/model/E350

[Cmdbuddy]

In case some of you didn't realize this, these trailers have had large families living in them for over a year and a half.

I'm from New Orleans so I can speak on some authority to this. 

They are nasty.  Really nasty.  Anybody living in that small of a space for that long will make it gross.  They've sat out in the elements for this long, probably leaked and everything, as well.  A lot of them had many workers living in them at a time.  I've been inside of one (a family member, who kept it nice) and they are EXTREMELY small.  I mean, in order to walk by someone, someone has to sit down so the other can pass. 

I wouldn't take one even if someone paid me to. 

[Lancer]

In case some of you didn't realize this, these trailers have had large families living in them for over a year and a half.

I'm from New Orleans so I can speak on some authority to this. 

They are nasty.  Really nasty.  Anybody living in that small of a space for that long will make it gross.  They've sat out in the elements for this long, probably leaked and everything, as well.  A lot of them had many workers living in them at a time.  I've been inside of one (a family member, who kept it nice) and they are EXTREMELY small.  I mean, in order to walk by someone, someone has to sit down so the other can pass. 

I wouldn't take one even if someone paid me to. 

If that's the case then why does it say...

Many of the trailers, originally bought for hurricane victims to live in until their homes could be repaired and reoccupied, are in brand new or excellent condition.

on the main information page.

You have to remember A LOT of the trailers went undistributed and unoccupied.
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/couriernews/news/331403,3_1_EL07_A3HABITAT_S1.article

I for one would be pretty upset if I drove all that way to pick one up and found out it was worthless.

[bosshawk]

As Cmdbuddy says: caveat emptor!!!!  Be careful of what you lust for: it might not be exactly what you think it is.

[flyguy06]

Now THAT could be a major problem.  I've never seen or heard of a CAP pickup truck.  I have seen a few big SUVs. 

we have CAP Pick up trucks with cabs on them here in GA

[NIN]

Many years back, we had a guy in MI Wing (Joe somebody or other.. comm geek) who had one of those huge motorhomes (coverted bus). He was a major amateur radio guy, so he had antennas, generators, etc, etc.

So he says "Hey, for the SAREX up at Mt. Pleasant, can I bring the motorhome to act as the comm shack?" 

"SURE!" sez the IC.

So he brings this huge thing up and it gets parked on the tarmac outside the terminal building at the airport. It winds up getting used as a serious communications "hub": packet, telephone, radio, satellite TV (weather, etc), that kind of thing.  There are network wires running inside the terminal building, phone lines, we're on shore power with this thing, etc.

So one of the AF evaluators, who laughed at the thing the whole time ("oh, geez, what are you gonna do with that whale?"), walks over at one point and yanks the shore power connector out of the outlet its plugged into.  A half dozen UPS units start chirping inside, and Joe comes running out to check the shore power. The evaluator is standing there with the shore power plug in his hand and says "POWER FAILURE!"

Joe turns around, opens the side panel on the bus, slides the 5Kw generator set out on rails, pushes the "ON" switch, waits about 20 seconds, flips the switch from "Shore" to "Generator" and runs back inside.

The comm shack was off the air for less than a minute.

The evaluator stopped laughing.