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By David Fleshler and Josh Hafenbrack~South Florida Sun Sentinel
If a major hurricane strikes Florida, authorities may take advantage of the foreclosure crisis to place displaced residents in vacant homes seized by banks.
Ruben Almaguer, interim director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, has proposed that the Federal Emergency Management Agency use foreclosed homes — which are particularly abundant in this state — as an alternative to placing people in trailers or scattering them around the country.
“Historically, no one has ever used foreclosed properties,†Almaguer said. “If they have 1,000 foreclosed properties in the area, why not?
“It may be cheaper, especially if they have to drive a trailer down from Kansas. The cost of driving that down, setting it up, now they’ve got to connect water, sewer, electricity, get permits pulled for it. That’s resolved when you already have in place a fixed property. And what happens a month later when the second hurricane comes through the same area? Would you rather be in a foreclosed home or a travel trailer? I’d rather be in a foreclosed home.â€
