A Post-Disaster Temporary Shelter

By Shane Healey

In FEMA’s molasses-like actions in providing 650,000 families displaced by Hurricane Katrina in August of 2005, our government’s actions could have been viewed by as neglectful, and globally, as a slow response. In addition, FEMA’s attempt to supply the 650,000 displaced households with temporary housing was short of satisfactory. With the occurrence and magnitude of natural disasters increasing, whether it is a hurricane, tornado, or earthquake, there is a large number of people that are forced into homelessness. These people are in need of temporary shelters, which can be located in southern, hurricane-prone, areas. Incorporating Locke, Dewey, and Hillier’s philosophies, my design process is composed of researching past experiences, investigation of those experiences, and researching previous solutions to those experiences. Using this process, I want to design cost effective temporary shelters that can be modified to fit the needs of the customer, as well as to fit most environmental conditions and terrain. To do this, the shelter will have adjustable legs that can be formed to fit a change in site elevation changes. To give the displaced families a place they can call “home”, various materiality aspects of the interior and exterior would be interchangeable. As for the main structure, whether it is located in a tropical wet climate or a dry climate, it would remain constant. No matter the location, with the addition of various cosmetic structures, the shelter would be able to fit in any environmental situation, as well as become a passive structure. To help supply the shelter’s energy, the option for roof mounted solar panels and solar gaining fabric material will be utilized. These shelters will be made from local recyclable materials; therefore, responding to the shelter’s cost effectiveness. In addition, these shelters will supply the inhabitants the capabilities to upgrade and expand, for future use. To make these shelters cost effective, they will be easily transported, arrive as a kit-of-parts that is collapsible and easily erected. After Katrina, FEMA created trailer parks that did many things: packed trailers in like sardines, create unsafe standards, and made people embarrassed to live in such areas. Therefore, in addition to creating a temporary shelter, the need for a pre-designed post-disaster shelter park is in need. This park will give the inhabitants all the amenities, security, and accessibility needed for temporary living, as well as making the displaced families feel welcome to come to the parks. With the occurrence of natural disasters increasing, so is the need to find a nationwide solution that would employ combining: fast construction, cost effective, and green aspects. In addition, utilizing interchangeable items to the displaced families some control; therefore, this research had lead to natural disaster prefabricated housing.