I-Team: Why Are FEMA Trailers Idle When Need Is Just Down The Road

Plains Township, Luzerne County--   100 or so FEMA trailers are sitting idle in the parking lot of the former Sunshine Supermarket in  Plains Township and many people ask why they are not being sent to help victims of Superstorm Sandy victims in New York and New Jersey. Kathy Drunges from Plains walks near the trailers everyday and can't understand why the trailers are not being dispatched to storm areas. She said, "Why don't they reach out to agencies or state officials and say we have these trailers just 90 minutes away..you can use them?" Eyewitness News spoke to John Donahue the site manager for the FEMA location in Plains Township. He explained, "We first have to receieve a request from the Staten involved. These trailers were sent here to help victims of last years floods in Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania. We still have 200 of the 300 that were sent here still being used by flood victims in our area. Once we get them back..we recondition them and make them available for service." Donahue added, "There are certain parameters that must be met..the request and then the location they are needed..does it fit the requirements for these trailers such as facilities..sewers..power etc."