Emergency Architecture: A Temporary Housing Solution for Post-Disasters in Hawaii

Abstract

Natural disasters such as hurricanes, tsunamis, and earthquakes are major adverse events thatcause catastrophic loss of life and physical destruction. Such disasters have been increasing worldwide affecting thousands of people each year at the least expected time. In the aftermath of a natural disaster, many individuals and families may be left vulnerable in several ways. Whether they choose to shelter-in-place or evacuate to a public shelter nearby, both forms of shelters - in most cases - are limited in space and may be affected by the storms as many are not built to withstand high winds, storm surges, and floods. When disaster victims cannot live in their previous residences or in a permanent emergencyshelter, it becomes necessary to quickly deploy safe, temporary shelters. This is especially critical during the early recovery stage of post-disaster times where temporary shelters provide protection from outside elements, a space to live and store belongings, privacy and security. The purpose of this research is to explore a viable solution for temporary shelters that can bedeployed after a natural disaster. It specifically focuses on developing temporary shelters for the Hawaiian islands with prototypes specifically for the island of Oʻahu. The design of this new temporary shelter will integrate local recovery strategies and new strategies from post-disaster shelter precedent studies of equatorial regions. By designing a new temporary housing during post-disaster times, disaster victims can beprovided with shelter and basic essentials that will allow them to continue their daily activities. Housing is an integral part of a community as it keeps people safe, secure, and most importantly, protected.