The cooler weather recently is a reminder of the urgency of getting shelter for those people flooded out of their homes in Cedar Rapids before the snow flies. FEMA spokesman Bill Vogel says they’re making progress toward that goal.

Vogel says their target date is October 1st and they are on track to do that as they have the sites and facilities and mobile homes all identified to do that. Vogel says the mobile homes won’t answer all the needs in eastern Iowa.

He says just because someone is not in a home, doesn’t mean that they will qualify for housing from FEMA. Vogel says they are doing whatever they can to find everyone a place to stay. Vogel says they work every day with the state-led joint housing task force to see who needs a home and are looking for all available resources. He says they would like to find rental housing in the communities for people to rent until they can find a permanent home. Vogel made his comments recently in Des Moines.