Even as FEMA begins making temporary trailers available to those left homeless by Hurricane Irene, Schoharie County hopes to have Summit Shock reopened for others as soon as Friday.
"There's no one-size fits-all answer to this housing situation," said Alicia Terry, head of County Planning.
"We need to make sure that people are warm and safe and that no one falls through the cracks."
The first of what could be as many as 50 FEMA trailers began arriving at the former Guilford Mills Friday.
FEMA's Chris McKniff said the plant will serve as a staging ground for the modulars, which are also being made available in Delaware, Greene and other counties.
Mr. McKniff said FEMA will re-contact those who registered with FEMA to see if they're interested in a trailer-and whether it will work for them.
Ms. Terry, however, said it's up to those people to re-contact FEMA themselves.
Mr. McKniff said there are conditions for placing the trailers and not every spot is feasible.
Potential sites must have available water and sewer hookup, not impede ongoing home repairs, and not be located in an area likely to get flooded again.
FEMA had initially said there was enough housing available without the trailers "but we've been looking at the housing situation daily and realized there needs to be other options," Mr. McKiff said.
The trailers are winterized and include some furniture and appliances.
The first batch of 22 delivered to Guilford is made up of two-bedroom trailers; three-bedroom trailers are also expected.
Mr. McKniff said the trailers will be available for as long as 18 months.
They're not free, he said; "rent" will be deducted from tenants' FEMA temporary housing grant and they must pay all utilities.
Ms. Terry said she's worried those who need the trailers most won't have sites that are workable.
Some of the local trailer parks have spots available, she said; the county also continues to look into creating a "more park-like setting" for a larger number of the trailers.
As of Monday, 1,582 Schoharie County residents had registered with FEMA and $7.6 million had been approved in FEMA grants.
Ms. Terry said 99 households have received the maximum FEMA grant of $30,200-an indication of just how devastating the flood was.
The Schoharie County Disaster Recovery Center, located at the Cobleskill Fire Department, will remain open as long as necessary, 8-5, Monday-Saturday, for those who haven't yet registered with FEMA..
Meanwhile, Ms. Terry said the state is drafting an agreement that would let the county use the closed Summit Shock.
The county, she said, is drafting a management plan and a budget.
"I don't want to say we'll have people in there by Friday, but that's our goal," she said.
Fifty beds could be made available immediately and the Visitors' Center would be used for food preparation and offices.