FEMAMeth lab found in FEMA temporary housing in Joplin
Following the devastating tornado that leveled Joplin, Missouri in May, thousands of residents were forced to take up temporary housing in FEMA mobile home parks, but of late many have become increasingly uneasy about their living situation following the discovery of a methamphetamine lab in a FEMA temporary housing complex
FEMA-installed temporary housing installed in Joplin, MO // Source: fema.gov
Following the devastating tornado that leveled Joplin, Missouri in May, thousands of residents were forced to take up temporary housing in FEMA mobile home parks. Displaced families have slowly adjusted to their new temporary homes, but following the discovery of a methamphetamine lab in a FEMA temporary housing complex, many have become increasingly uneasy about their living situation.
Last week, four individuals were arrested at the Hope Haven mobile home site, for operating a meth lab out of their temporary shelter.
“It’s really sad because we are all out here to get our lives back together, to relax and just heal, to move on,” said Jason Calvin, a resident of Hope Haven. “We’ve kind of agreed to keep an eye on each other’s places during the day when we are here and there, and we have each other’s cell phone numbers to call when we need to, so a lot of us have made that bond.”
Joplin police say there has been no increase in the number of meth cases, but residents remain concerned.
Calvin fears that even one meth lab could spark an explosion that sets the entire mobile home complex ablaze. “One could just ignite the other, and just ignite the other, it could wipe out the park in no time flat,” he said.
Lieutenant Darren Gallup of the Joplin Police Department acknowledged residents’ concerns stating, “Any time you’re dealing with meth labs it’s always a concern for safety no matter if you’re living in an area like the mobile housing units or if you’re living in an apartment complex or even in a neighborhood, you know we want to make sure people are safe.”
Calvin hopes that the incident will result in more police patrolling the mobile housing units.
“We are going to be out here for an indefinite amount of time so we might as well make the best of it and I just wish someone would step up and make sure something happens so we can just get out here, relax, and do our part to move on,” Calvin said.
