AP: FEMA: Same Key Could Open Many Trailers

[Eugene]

FEMA: Same Key Could Open Many Trailers


Monday August 14, 2006 5:46 PM

By LARA JAKES JORDAN

Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - FEMA will replace locks on as many as 118,000 trailers used
by Gulf Coast hurricane victims after discovering that the same key could open
multiple mobile homes, the agency said Monday.

Some keys could open as many as 50 different locks - causing a security risk
in heavily populated trailer parks in Louisiana and Mississippi.

"We're aggressively stepping out to minimize the risk," said Federal Emergency
Management Agency spokesman Pat Philbin. He said FEMA worked though the
weekend after discovering the problem last Friday at a Baton Rouge, La., trailer
park that has hurricane victims.

-snip-

The snafu stems from a limited number of lock makers - three - that trailer
manufacturers use when building mobile homes, FEMA officials said. That increases
the likelihood of locks being the same, they said.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6014913,00.html

[Lars39]

1. Good grief! Why announce something like this before the problem

is taken care of?

[lpbk2713]

9. Could be the story was leaked out to the media by the locksmiths

or whoever might be doing the work and/or supplying the new locks.


As the word gets out and the need for security becomes more critical they stand to make more money. They would have a stronger bargaining position and could demand overtime pay etc.

[merh]

12. Well, it sure makes me feel safe. :(

So do I stay up all night, guarding the door?

FEMA's record keeping is pathetic, they don't know how to contact everyone that has a trailer to let them know this problem exists, so they have to publicize it, giving potential criminals the heads up. FEMA actually called me an offered to deliver my trailer, when I told them I had one, they told me I was wrong. Too many subcontractors involved in the delivery and set up.

I haven't slept through the night since the storm any way, why should tonight be any different.

As if formaldehyde concerns weren't enough. :(

[Lars39]

14. Oh, merh!

:( :hug:

[merh]

15. whatcha gonna do?

:shrug:

If it ain't one thing, it's another.

I appreciate the hug, any positive energies or prayers that you can spare will be appreciated.

Tomorrow I will call and ask FEMA about my lock and I will go buy a St. Joseph statue and bury it. Maybe then I can get some structure going.

:hug:

[Lars39]

16. You have 'em, merh.

:hug:

[merh]

17. thank you

:hug:

[KamaAina]

18. You should've taken it anyway.

FEMA actually called me an offered to deliver my trailer, when I told them I had one, they told me I was wrong.

:rofl:

Knowing these assclowns, I'm sure there's someone else not far from you who STILL needs a FEMAnsion nearly a year on. You should have just let the :dunce: s deliver the second one and then had your neighbor tow it away. And s/he wouldn't even have to leave a spare key under the doormat :evilgrin:

[merh]

19. Oh no, not with my luck

that would be the only trailer properly tracked and inventoried and then I would be charged with a federal felony for losing it or giving it away or whatever.

As it is, my trailer is marked once a month, the date is written on the outside with magic marked. I'm not sure if that is done by the feds or the city, just know that it is dated. I'll have to ask my caseworker the next time I see him. :freak:

[I_Make_Mistakes]

20. Hey Merh, how is your rebuilding going or isn't it? Last I heard

a long time ago, things were looking up! I hope all is well, and prayers are coming!

Be safe this hurricane season!

[LiberalHeart]

2. Same Key Opens Many Katrina Trailer Homes; Locks to be Replaced

WASHINGTON (AP) -- FEMA will replace locks on as many as 118,000 trailers used by Gulf Coast hurricane victims after discovering that the same key could open multiple mobile homes, the agency said Monday.

Some keys could open as many as 50 different locks -- causing a security risk in heavily populated trailer parks in Louisiana and Mississippi.

Read more about this screw-up here:
http://www.wtol.com/Global/story.asp?S=5278302

[cspanlovr]

3. Can't they do anything right? What an incompetent clot of people

these Bushies are.

[FlaGranny]

4. No problem - they can

hire Haliburton to replace the locks for $5000 each. :sarcasm:

[LiberalFighter]

6. I can replace them for $10,001 each

[truthisfreedom]

7. you win. highest bidder!

[FlaGranny]

11. Sorry about that - I should have never

UNDERESTIMATED Haliburton. :evilgrin:

[mcscajun]

5. Lowest bidder regulations + bureaucratic incompetence strike again.

What a bunch of morons! Then, to announce it while the fix is still pending.

Ugh.

[BattyDem]

8. So ... in the event of a disaster ...

our lives are in the hands of an agency that can't even secure some trailers???

[LordLovesAWorkingMan]

10. So basically

the government gives them a place to live, and has the key to their place so they can go in and get paid back. sounds about par for the course these days.

[w4rma]

13. If each key opened 50 locks, you'd still need 2,000 keys to open all of

these locks. And that's at the worst end. I think they shouldn't waste their money on this. They should only replace the locks for folks who specifically ask for them to be replaced, imho.

This sounds like a problem with *all* mobile homes. Maybe the manufacturer of the mobile homes should be sued, unless they are expanding the number of types of locks.