"Some of them had not even been used," she said. "They have not been lived in."

Because the FEMA trailers were to be used as replacement housing, they are fully furnished. They will arrive with furniture, washers and dryers, mattresses, heaters and stove-top ranges. The 13 units coming to the Ute Tribe are "in good shape," said Cesspooch.

"They go from 60-footers to 80-footers, most of them are three bedrooms and I think most of them have two bathrooms," he said. "These were made in 2004 and 2005. We did look in them — we were all pleased with what we saw."

Cesspooch and four other tribal officials, including the director of the Ute Housing Authority, recently went to Texas to inspect the trailers, take an inventory and officially accept them pending final testing on each unit.

The tribe is now responsible for making arrangements to transport the trailers to Fort Duchesne after clearance from FEMA. Cesspooch said those details are being worked out. Tribal leaders are also determining how the selection process will work for those applying to live in the trailers.

"One criteria will be based on ability to pay," Cesspooch said. "There will be some kind of fee."

The cost of the housing for tribal members will depend in part on how much the tribe has to spend to transport the trailers to Fort Duchesne.

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E-mail: lezleewhiting@hotmail.com