Seabees, Local Residents Establish Temporary Housing for Hurricane Victims

PLAQUEMINE PARISH, La. -- Seabees of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 40 and local Plaquemines Parish residents teamed up in September to help the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) expedite establishing housing for hundreds of Hurricane Katrina evacuees.

One of FEMA’s plans for relocating evacuees involved Plaquemines Parish landowners like Ray Tolar, who volunteered his land to host trailers for local families to stay in.

In Tolar’s case, FEMA placed 19 trailers in his front yard, and Seabees are installing water, sewage and electrical connections for the trailers.

“The faster and better we can install these lines,” said Construction Electrician 3rd Class (SCW) Matthew Huston, “the sooner the evacuees can get into these trailers.”

The plumbing and electrical work is a welcome change to Seabees who have seen more than their fair share of debris clearing throughout the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast.

“I love a job like this trailer park,” said Huston, “because we’re actually doing something for the hurricane victims directly.”

In addition to making sure the 19 trailers have safe sewage, water, and electrical connections, the Seabees are helping volunteers like Tolar with their own concerns as well.

“The Seabees are doing good,” said Tolar, who is a contracted plumber by trade. “They helped me change my tractor’s tire. We’re friendly to each other, bring them coffee and iced tea. They’ve been very courteous, and I’m just glad to see them here to help us.”