NationStates Jolt Archive


Cheap housing for disaster recovery? What do YOU think???

Eutrusca
28-10-2005, 14:59
COMMENTARY: This is one of those "great ideas" which infrequently come wandering down the path, shouldering asside all the "business as usual" that passes for innovation in some quarters. Semi-permanent, relatively cheap, easy to transport and assemble ... seems made to order for disasters. We should do this!


Give Them Shelter (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/28/opinion/28saunders.html?th&emc=th)


By ALEXANDER SAUNDERS
Published: October 28, 2005
Garrison, N.Y.

THE earthquake in Pakistan has left millions homeless. Umar Ghuman, Pakistan's minister of foreign investment and a longtime customer of my foundry supply company, has asked me to help find housing for as many of these people as possible before the onset of winter in the next few days.

Tents are not protection enough, and conventional prefabricated houses are neither readily available nor easy to ship. The solution, then, is to think of something less conventional, like the work shed-greenhouse combinations sold at Sam's Club and other retailers. Such sheds - small (882 cubic feet), plastic, weather-tight, insulated and portable - retail for around $2,000. Two hundred thousand of these houses - temporary homes for a million people - would cost less than $400 million.

These sheds come in sections, such that a C5-A military cargo plane could fit hundreds of units on a single flight. The manufacturer can produce nearly 20,000 units per month, but additional new machinery could be developed promptly to speed up production. Although there are many garden structures to choose from, the one that combines both shelter and greenhouse functions is manufactured in Winfield, Kan.

Large enough to house a small family, the work shed and greenhouse, if supplied with water and seed, can also provide bean and alfalfa sprouts as well as other fast- growing vegetables. It can be fitted with solar panels for hot water and electricity. The built-in workbenches are ideal bed platforms.

Once delivered to Pakistan, the house kits could be carried in sections by the region's ubiquitous minitrucks, or even by backpackers or helicopters where mountain villages are inaccessible. An experienced team can assemble the houses in minutes on firm, dry, level ground. Their construction is both rugged and flexible enough to withstand future shocks.

This is an opportunity for the United States to present to the world a product of our manufacturing ingenuity delivered by our military might. The United States needs to regain credibility with its friends throughout the region, and the people there need housing desperately.

How about it, retailers? Can you contribute your inventory to start these houses on their way immediately? How about it, United States Air Force? Will you fly your C5-A's on a humanitarian mission?

We need to do this now, not next week or next month. Winter - with mountain blizzards, powerful winds and subzero temperatures - will come to the Himalayas in days. The commercial air freight system is already shipping blankets, tents and medical supplies. That's a good start, but it is in no way adequate for housing people in winter.

Of course we must remember the needs of our own hurricane victims, as well as the tsunami victims still in makeshift camps. But the winter storms of the high mountains present a mortal threat that demands an immediate response. We have the means. So what are we waiting for?

Alexander Saunders is a founder of Clearwater, an environmental organization.
Syniks
28-10-2005, 15:05
I've oftern thought of this myself for use as a temporary hunting cabin...

Biggest problem is wind resistance - but that can be managed.

I like the Blown-concrete over a Baloon "Dome Shelters" myself.
Armorvia
28-10-2005, 16:24
Excellent idea - are they capable of being anchored down for wind resistance? Don't trumpet here - make this known to the disaster relief agencies. Have the maker remarket them as "emergency housing", so nobody flips about,living in a greenhouse, etc.
Good idea, sir, well thought of! When the individuals get thier own lives/homes in order, the "homes" could either be left in place, or collapsed for storage at a central point for reissuance in case of another disaster.
Drunk commies deleted
28-10-2005, 16:37
Sounds fine as a temporary measure. After the families rebuild proper houses they can use the sheds as storage space.
Sierra BTHP
28-10-2005, 16:41
You don't need C-5 aircraft for these. Besides, there are less than 32 C-5 aircraft operational. Commerical aircraft will do for transporting these.

The question I have is about money - apparently few nations have pledged money, and fewer have sent any.

The UK apparently tops the list of donors, followed by the US (from NPR a few days ago).

Also, there are some countries, like France, that have neither pledged nor given any money or aid.

The amount of money given so far is quite meager - especially when compared to the money sent to aid tsunami victims.
Silliopolous
28-10-2005, 16:53
You don't need C-5 aircraft for these. Besides, there are less than 32 C-5 aircraft operational. Commerical aircraft will do for transporting these.

The question I have is about money - apparently few nations have pledged money, and fewer have sent any.

The UK apparently tops the list of donors, followed by the US (from NPR a few days ago).

Also, there are some countries, like France, that have neither pledged nor given any money or aid.

The amount of money given so far is quite meager - especially when compared to the money sent to aid tsunami victims.


Actually, while France has not been a donater of cash, they were one of the first on the ground with medical supplies and field medics helping out - so yu cannot say that they have not donated aid.

noted October 9th, the day after the quake: (http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?tl=1&display=rednews/2005/10/09/build/world/36-quake-aid.inc)

Some teams had already reached Pakistan on Sunday, including a Russian rescue team, the first contingent of a British emergency rescue team and a United Nations team of top disaster coordination officials who set up three emergency centers to coordinate relief efforts.

"We have to be quick," said U.N. spokeswoman Elisabeth Byrs.

The Pakistani military said planes from France, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and China had also landed in various areas of the country Sunday, bringing rescuers, sniffer dogs, earth moving equipment, medicines, food and relief goods.



the french have also been doing their aid under NATO auspices: (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051021/ap_on_re_as/nato_pakistan_2)
Syniks
28-10-2005, 17:03
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y180/MrMisanthrope/Treehouse_LG.jpg
How to avoid Tigers... :D

http://www.royaloutdoor.com/projects.html

How to build a Winchester Vinyl Shed
http://www.royaloutdoor.com/projects-winchester.html

Concerned about assembly? Don’t be. You and an assistant can assemble a Platinum Series Building in 3 to 5 hours. And if you move you can take your building with you because it can be easily dismantled and reassembled.