Comment Submitted by Lisa A. Carmona, Florida Equal Justice Center

Florida Equal Justice Center, Inc. is a non profit organization that provides free legal representation to low income families throughout 13 counties in South/Central Florida. During the past 5 years, we have assisted disaster survivors during Hurricanes Wilma and Tropical Storm Fay. These comments, adopt and fully endorse the comments submitted by Cindy Huddleston, Esq. of Florida Legal Services, Inc. In addition we make the following comments regarding pages 7 &8 of the proposed " Disaster Temporary Housing Operational Guide": 1. Other Disaster Housing Support Actions: A) Increase Capacity to Register Survivors for Assistance: In cases where FEMA needs to increase capacity to augment its registration capabilities, FEMA should ensure that staff assigned to specific shelters or call centers is able to adequately respond to the needs of limited English proficient disaster survivors as well as those with low English language literacy skills. B) Accelerate Housing Inspections: There are no guidelines for inspections. Additionally, there is no language in the manual that directs Housing Inspection Contractors to communicate with local code enforcement inspectors, local long term recorvery committees (LTRC) or with disaster survivors whose homes are subject to inspection. At a minimum, housing inspectors should work cooperatively with disaster survivors as well as local code enforcement and local LTRC to ensure accuracy of inspections. C) Support Long Term Recovery Committee Activities: Past experience suggest s that the amount of information/ support offered by the local VAL with the local LTRC depends largely on the VAL's willingness to work with state and local support. We suggest that language be added to the manual that specifically directs the VAL to "regularly meet with the LTRC and actively support the LTRC's efforts to respond to the needs of the disaster affected community".