Under the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA’s) Logistics Housing Operations Unit Installation, Maintenance and Deactivation (LogHOUSE) program, MLU Services, a Michael Baker International Company, has served as a key partner in delivering rapid, large-scale temporary housing solutions following major disasters nationwide. Since 2018, MLU has supported the installation of more than 60,000 transportable temporary housing units (TTHUs) and manufactured housing units (MHUs), providing critical housing relief to tens of thousands of displaced families.
Following catastrophic flooding in Northwest Iowa between March and July 2024 that destroyed hundreds of homes and businesses, FEMA mobilized MLU to support large-scale housing operations under Disaster Recovery 4796-IA. MLU was tasked with constructing three long-term temporary housing sites simultaneously in three different locations. The team assisted with site selection, converting three existing, empty fields into group sites with the capacity to accommodate 96 MHUs.
The project scope consisted of full site development, including surveys, planning, design/engineering, permitting and construction of underground utilities, roadways, mobile home pads, tornado shelters and common areas. Michael Baker and Tidal Basin Group, a Michael Baker International Company, assisted with design, engineering and program and construction management.
Key details about each Iowa group site location:
- 16th Street Site, Hawarden – 10 MHUs; construction was completed and accepted by FEMA in less than 40 days from notice to proceed (NTP).
- North Y Site, Spencer – 20 MHUs; construction was completed and accepted by FEMA in less than 50 days from NTP.
- Rock Ridge Site, Rock Valley – 66 MHUs; construction was completed and accepted by FEMA in less than 60 days from NTP.
The team’s rapid mobilization and technical expertise enabled FEMA to provide housing at scale across three locations, supporting a substantial number of families displaced by the flooding disasters. This project showcased MLU’s capacity to construct and manage several large-group sites simultaneously and deliver high-volume MHU readiness in compressed timelines.