In regions such as western North Carolina and the Tampa Bay area, a significant percentage of the housing stock is mobile or manufactured housing. In western North Carolina, for example, 14% of all homes fall into this category, a figure that rises to 11% around Tampa Bay. This is especially concerning because manufactured homes, while affordable, are often located in areas prone to flooding and severe weather.
The devastation caused by hurricanes like Helene and Milton has exposed the vulnerabilities of these communities. Older mobile homes, many of which were built before the 1976 federal building standards went into effect, are especially at risk. The standards, introduced by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, have undergone several revisions to increase safety, but homes built before this date remain a concern.
For residents like Joe Rogers of North Carolina, the impact of these storms is catastrophic. Rogers lost his home and his wife when their mobile home was swept away by the waters of Hurricane Helene. Such tragic stories are becoming all too common as climate disasters become more frequent and severe.
The challenges extend beyond the immediate aftermath of the storms. Recovery and reconstruction efforts are often hampered by financial constraints. Many residents of mobile home parks do not have insurance, which significantly complicates their ability to rebuild or relocate. While federal assistance is available, it is rarely enough to cover the cost of replacing a home, and the process of accessing these funds is fraught with bureaucratic hurdles.
Additionally, mobile home parks often lack broader community protection measures, such as stormwater management systems and increased infrastructure, that are more commonly implemented in higher-income areas. This disparity underscores the intersection of climate vulnerability and economic inequality, and highlights the urgent need for policy reforms to better protect these at-risk communities.
The recurring theme in these stories is clear: while mobile and manufactured housing provide a crucial affordable housing option, their susceptibility to climate-related disasters requires greater attention and action from both policymakers and community planners to ensure safer, more resilient living conditions for their residents. .
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