Ten pre-fabricated emergency homes officially opened this week are capable of withstanding hurricane force-winds up to 140 mph, it has been revealed.

And should the Island face imminent winds of a greater ferocity plans have been drawn up to evacuate tenants to safe shelters, according to Housing Minister Senator Lt. Col. David Burch.

The strength of the buildings was questioned this week by Sen. Kim Swan who asked how the units would fare if Bermuda is struck by a hurricane during the up-coming season and what preparations have been drawn up to evacuate the families.

Shadow Housing Minister Sen. Swan raised the concerns in the wake of the opening of eight pre-fab homes at the entrance of the Morgan?s Point peninsula and two others at Beacon Hill, Somerset.

?There are still outstanding safety issues that do not appear to have been adequately addressed by Government,? he said.

?In contrast to more solidly constructed Bermuda homes, these mobile units have not yet been field-tested in the Bermuda Hurricane season.

?We have all seen TV footage of trailer parks in the US that have been devastated by high winds. Therefore, Government must take steps now to put in place contingency evacuation plans for the residents to use a nearby school or church in the event that Bermuda is threatened again this summer with hurricane-force winds.?

In response, Sen. Burch said the homes can withstand winds of 120 mph and with enhanced connections used during the installation of the homes the units can now survive winds of at least 140 mph.

He added: ?As part of the Emergency Measures Organisation?s procedures of the Department of Child and Family Services ? plans have been developed to evacuate tenants to prearranged shelters should this be necessary.?

The pre-fab homes, which cost about $50,000 each, were brought to the Island in segments and assembled on site.

Sen. Burch declared the new homes ready to provide emergency housing this week. He said it was unlikely that any more of the pre-fab homes would be brought to the Island as the intention is to build more substantial homes to ease the Island?s shortage of affordable homes.

But while the 10 new homes are a welcome addition they are ?too little, too late,? according to United Bermuda Party?s Sen. Swan.

He said: ?While we are pleased for the 10 families that will be housed in the mobile units, it is disgraceful that it took the PLP Government 18 months to actually find a home for the mobile homes.

?After all, the public was originally told by (former Housing Minister) Ashfield DeVent that the whole point of importing trailer homes was to do something quickly and cheaply for those families in desperate need.?

Sen. Burch, speaking at the unveiling of the properties on the former US military zone baseball diamond at Morgan?s Point, said there had been difficulties finding suitable locations for the new housing because of community complaints. He said new residents were due to start moving into the properties during the next few days.