The tornado-ravaged citizens of Cordova, Alabama — about 35 miles northwest of Birmingham, pop. 2000 — have lost everything after a series of monster twisters tore through their town on April 27th. With nowhere to turn, scores of newly homeless residents were relieved when FEMA came along with a caravan of single-wide mobile homes they could use as shelter. Not so fast: Mayor Jack Scott has declared that single-wide mobile homes are illegal in Cordova.

The law was enacted three years ago, and bans the trailers as a means of keeping the town white trash-free. That the trailers might be required as part of an emergency measure following a devastating act of God never figured into it — but that makes no difference to Scott, reports the AP:

Scott has heard all the complaints, and he isn't apologizing. He said he doesn't want run-down mobile homes parked all over town years from now.

"I don't feel guilty," he said. "I can look anyone in the eye."

Not that there aren't exceptions. The Cordova Police Department, a pharmacy, a bank and City Hall have all moved into FEMA trailers since the tornadoes. [AP, photo via AP]