FEMA Formaldehyde Fiasco: 'RV Industry Got Greedy'

While rumblings are still heard about "toxic RVs" sent to Hurricane Katrina victims by FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency), a poll of RV industry insiders indicates most feel the RV industry dodged a bullet. Nevertheless, some interesting comments surfaced, not all of which paint a pretty picture.

While the majority of respondents to a poll taken by trade magazine RV Business said the adverse publicity generated by reports of health problems created by formaldehyde in FEMA supplied trailers might have created "perception problems," they resoundingly feel the issue had not affected sales of "off the lot" trailers.

As might be expected, a lot of emotion was tied up in the responses of those whose livelihoods might have been adversely affected. The media took plenty of fire: “I do not appreciate the light that the RV Industry has been placed,” said a manufacturer. “I think there are other factors and not just the RV industry to blame (for reports of respiratory problems in trailer residents).”

Politics too, came into play, according to at least one respondent: “Our industry answered a call from the government to the best of our ability. Many manufacturers stopped producing anything else,” stated a member of the manufacturing sector. “I see the main thrust of this as ambulance chasing and greed as well as another opportunity for the Democrats to embarrass the Bush Administration. There is not another industry that would be able to react as quickly with so many units and as cost effective.”

Interestingly, one consultant pointed the finger back inside: “Because the [RV] industry was in a downturn, it got greedy when making trailers for the government. Now it is going to pay for this greed in the future as more lawsuits are filed on other RVs in addition to the FEMA RVs.”

Photo: FEMA

The Return of the Embalmed RV

About a month ago we ran a piece regarding alleged high levels of formaldehyde in FEMA commissioned RVs sent for Katrina disaster relief. In that story we said, "The question for all of us could be: What levels of formaldehyde are present in regular production line RV models? Have you ever had your RV tested?" Our questions got plenty of backlash. Mind you, the story was primarily directed to disaster relief trailers.

Interestingly, ABC News found the FEMA-Formaldehyde issue big enough to take on for the rest of the RV industry. In their story, Embalmed in Your RV: Formaldehyde Poisons Vacationers, ABC investigated the story of an RVer who bought an off-the-line Cougar RV from manufacturer Keystone. The RVer, Marvin Motes, said that on a trip he and his wife began to develop odd symptoms. When they heard about the formaldehyde issues on FEMA trailers, the Motes made the mental connection.

After testing their rig, the Motes found the levels of formaldehyde in their trailer at .42 and .37 parts per million, well above the .10 parts per million level where the Environmental Protection Agency says "acute health effects can occur." When the Motes took their problems to the dealer where they bought their RV, they say the dealer was unwilling to help them. A couple of RV consumer organizations were interviewed about the formaldehyde issue in the story, and the whole item makes an interesting read. Check out the ABC story here.

While the ABC News story mentions a Sierra Club website where folks can comment on formaldehyde experiences in RVs, no link is given. We checked with the Sierra Club and found that Becky Gillette, a Mississippi chapter club official has begun her own blog on the subject. You can access it through this link.