JoplinGlobe reports that the first residents are moving into the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) new Officer Jeff Taylor Memorial Park. Amber Flowers and her three daughters are among the first to make the move into the emergency housing FEMA has provided. “They’ve done a really nice thing here,” Flowers said about FEMA’s work. Other newcomers agreed. Flowers is among 36 families that moved into one of FEMA ‘mobile homes’ (more properly called, HUD Code Manufactured Homes) over the weekend. FEMA spokesman John Mills said housing for families with school-age children before school starts is a priority. The plan is to have two communities, Officer Jeff Taylor Memorial Park and Hope Haven Park, both across Highway 171 from the Joplin Regional Airport. The locations will serve 346 families. Mills explained that another 140 families are being housed in FEMA homes in nearby commercially owned manufactured home land-lease communities. When complete, total FEMA housing will accommodate 634 families. No rental fees are assessed, and utilities are mostly paid by the government. Mills said that “FEMA will do everything possible to meet the needs of the community.” # #
