How Prefab Came To Rescue At These Disaster Stricken Areas?

Disasters are inescapable, calamities may hit hard & man-made deterioration may never end. Calamities cannot be presumed, but its preventive measures can be adopted beforehand. Prefab homes have created a wave in many parts of the world for its cost-effectiveness, efficient construction time, and strength. Disasters like an earthquake, tsunami, hurricane, explosions, etc., have destroyed many homes & livelihoods. Shelters are supposed to be our refuge, but how will it aid us when they are cornered by limitations of getting collapsed in such situations.

Over the years, the world has witnessed many gut-wrenching phenomenons that have swallowed housings, institutions, workplaces & much more. To conquer such events, people have turned to a disaster relief housing, built via prefabricated modular constructions. Prefab housing has a major approach towards construction, i.e., on-site structure assembly. Prefab homes consist of factory-made pieces, which is why its time efficiency is unmatchable from that of traditional construction. Here are some instances of how help via prefab homes during natural disasters helped livelihood retrieval during extremities.

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The world’s factory for skyscrapers, China has managed to hold onto speed during times of disaster. The country witnessed two major virus outbreaks SARS, and the recent Coronavirus claiming more than 1000 lives. To help the victims, the country aimed to build a 1600-bed facility hospital via prefab construction. The country’s willingness to fight the adverse conditions, they miraculously built the prefab hospital within 6-10 days. The hospital consists of all facilities like separate intensive care units, operating rooms, clinical labs, etc., all built via prefab technology. The sustainability & energy efficiency of prefab construction has been popular in China for a long-time and has been used turning China into the city of prefab skyscrapers.

In 2018, tropical paradise a.k.a., God’s own country was hit by a gigantic flood. The torrential floods caused a loss of Rs 310 million, damaging around 2.5 Lakh houses, out of which around 15000 houses were completely destroyed & irrecoverable. It was for Laurie Baker, a British born Indian architect who resided in Thiruvananthapuram, raised a campaign for low-cost & eco-friendly prefab houses that caused people convincingly switch to prefab housing. Especially in the Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESAs) like the sinking island of Kerala, the Munroe Islands has welcomed prefab as a savior. The place was flooded last year, collapsing around 200 houses. Munroe Islands continuously faces climate change, becoming susceptible to flooding. Currently, the state has adopted to prefabricated technology and aims to build around 200 prefab homes through it.

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It was 2005, Hurricane Katrina entered the Gulf of Mexico and took over, causing around 1200 casualties, and extensive destruction. It was undoubtedly one of the deadliest hurricanes that still marks a black day & voids in our hearts. After 13 years, the gulf was again hit by another massive hurricane- Michael. Being an ocean basin, it is vulnerable to such life-harming disasters. To emerge & prevent such devastating events, the Federal Emergency Management Agency took to commercial prefab home building for temporary and permanent housing. Within a short span of time, they had been able to build portable classrooms, large scale prefab office, and disaster relief homes.

A beautiful island country, Camano Islands was hit by Tsunami in 1820. The massive wave engulfed many lives and localities. As a counteract, stands the 30 feet tall Tsunami house, designed with prefab architecture to prevent extreme water force. The house has the capability to withstand a high-speed impact of the water as well as an earthquake thus is the perfect Tsunami & earthquake-resistant home. The lower level of the house has been built completely waterproof along with the furnishings & glass doors, that can easily pave way to high intensity water force. When built traditionally, the cement walls have fallen prey to the high-velocity waves causing mass destruction. The rooftop of the Tsunami house has been made to fit in 1500 people during such extreme conditions.

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It was the afternoon of 2011 when Joplin witnessed the deadliest tornado in the history of Missouri. Crushing over 161 lives, the tornado destroyed 8000 homes & businesses. The mayhem evoked a mission to build safer hospitals in response to the mass destruction by uncalled natural disasters. The Mercy hospital was one such paradigm to the oath to build safer hospitals and transforming them into disaster-resistant shelter. The architecture was intellectually planned, comprising of tough walls around. Glass windows have been placed in the ICUs for quick evacuation of patients who are unable to move.

Prefab / Modular building is a smart construction method relieving lives stuck with disasters. The technology has helped the countries all over the world for quick recovery. The strong & economical houses have made us rethink about our home- the only shelter & our office- the driver of economy. Solvabuild relies on the belief of minimising the limitations that bind us to the uninvited calamities. The unforeseen disasters can storm in without intimation, is your home ready?