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Shelter in the storm: from tarpaulin to new home

By Alix Miller
February 1, 2011 at 6:07 pm

From tarpaulins to tsunami-resistant homes, the journey from emergency relief shelter to permanent dwellings for a community devastated by disaster can be long and complex. Here’s how the British Red Cross rebuilds communities to help them recover from disaster.

Emergency shelter

Following a disaster, one thing the British Red Cross often focuses on as part of its emergency response,  is providing emergency shelter. This consists mainly of tarpaulins and shelter kits (ropes, nails, hammer etc). Tarpaulins have a universal design suitable for every situation (they can be used as shelter for latrines, wash rooms, market stalls as well as generally). They’re flexible, UV-resistant and last up to a year. Tents can also be used but they need more space, are not long-lasting or as versatile.

Transitional shelter

After the relief phase, the Red Cross builds transitional shelters. The cost-effective designs are built to withstand future disasters, using sustainable sources for materials. Members of the local community are consulted and employed to build them, boosting the local economy. Constructed with timber, steel or bamboo frames, tin roofs, and often a concrete foundation, these last for three years. They can be better than the previous local structures. Location, materials and design are determined by many factors and the money available.

Permanent shelter

The British Red Cross consults closely with communities about the homes it will provide. In Indonesia after the Boxing Day 2004 tsunami, people were offered a choice: traditional timber frame, a concrete frame with concrete block walls and a composite concrete block and timber frame. In areas prone to flooding, designs were modified to include concrete stilts to raise the house above water levels. Permanent shelters are designed to last at least ten years and complement livelihood activities. So, for example, would accommodate a fisherman’s boat.

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Tags: disaster, disaster response, Emergencies, emergency response, shelter, tarpaulins, tents

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 1st, 2011 at 6:07 pm and is filed under Emergencies, International. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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