Shelter Requirementsin a Disaster Response

Course # CH1DR1

Presented by Henry Watts, PE

Engineering Ministries International

AIA/CES Provider #G495

Engineering Ministries International is a Registered Provider with The American Institute of Architects Continuing Education Systems. Credit earned on completion of this program will be reported to CES Records for AIA members. Certificates of Completion for non-AIA members are available on request.

This program is registered with the AIA/CES for continuing professional education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product. Questions related to specific materials, methods, and services will be addressed at the conclusion of this presentation.

Learning Objectives

Introduction to Shelters in Disaster Relief

Situations

The need for Architects and Engineers to be

involved in the early response to disasters

Explanation and Exploration of the Sphere

Standards Minimum Standards in Shelter and

Settlement

This presentation looks at shelters in a disaster from the perspective of the developing world. When Katrina hit, we looked to the US Government and FEMA to provide shelter. In the developing world, there is no FEMA.

Developing World Disasters

The Classic Tent

Current Concepts in Shelters

Host Families

Rural Self-Settlement/Urban Self-Settlement

Collective Centers

Self-Settlement Camp

Planned Camp

What are the Options?

This graph was prepared by the Sheltre Center, Geneva, Switzerland

Pakistan Relief Shelter built by MRDS

Tent City in El Salvador

Metal Framed Tarp Clad

concept house

Super Adobe Homes Southern Iraq

Settlements in Darfur, Sudan

Photo by AFP/Salah Omar

Photo by Reuters/Finbar OReilly

eMi Designed Housing for Hurricane Stan Relief

Guatemala

Concrete Canvas Concept House

(house in a bag)

Impacts of Early Decisions

Providing Tools to Build Back Better

What steps can we take?

Why do we need Architects and

Engineers involved?

From Rick Hill, CHF International

Community Who is the community how does the community function?

Water and Wastewater - What are the advantages of the site?

Hazard Analysis What caused the disaster and is the new site prone to the same or new hazards?

Elements to Consider in Siting and

Designing a Settlement

Few tools exist to support communities to build back better Dr. Tom Corsillis, Co-director of the Sheltre Center

The tragic result is that communities often build back worse

Providing Tools to Build Back Better

Pakistan Home Construction

Improvements for Earthquake Resistance

Pakistan Home Construction

Improvements for Earthquake Resistance

Know the Culture/Client

Understand the Building Material, Construction

Techniques

Understand and Design to the Sphere Standards

Know the Funding Mechanisms

Most major settlement and shelter decisions are made by country directors and heads of mission,

not by technical specialists.

As a design consultant you have been trained to do this!

Keys to Success

Pre-fabs are often imported into a disaster area from another country -- and the money needed goes in the opposite direction. The local/regional economy affected by a disaster is robbed of important capital that could circulate within that economy, thereby aiding in the overall resurgence of that economy.

Use of pre-fab units negates an extremely important function of shelter: the need for family, community, social, and cultural expression.

When they are introduced into a disaster area, pre-fabs have the effect of undermining the shelter sector standard of output, which can lead to significant and time-consuming discussions among donors and NGOs even before the have-have not effects of differential output reach the community level.

Quotes from PRE-FAB SHELTER: SOME POINTS TO CONSIDERby Charles A. Setchell, USAID/OFDA

What is wrong with Pre-Fabs?

Just like every design project is different, every disaster is different different climates,

different materials, different people.

We need the professional design community to step up in disaster response to provide

quality design solutions to the need for shelter.

The information in the next section is taken from

The Sphere Project: Humanitarian Charter and

Minimum Standards in Disaster Response, 2004

Edition

This information is copyright 2004 by The Sphere Project.

The Sphere Standards

The Sphere Project

Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in

Disaster Response

www.sphereproject.org

Goal: To improve the quality of

assistance provided to people affected by disasters, and improve

the accountability of states and humanitarian agencies to their

constituents, their donors and their beneficiaries

The Sphere Project

Overall handbook structure

Sphere Vocabulary

Minimum standards: subjective, general statement that state the minimum level for a given area

Key Indicators: a more specific, often objective level used to provide guidance in meeting the Standard

Guidance Notes: additional information--advice on priority issues, common dilemmas, etc.

International Community has recognized the

standards as a minimum baseline for

humanitarian response.

If the organizations we work with desire

USAID/OFDA funding, we will need to reference

the sphere standards in our application.

Why do we need to know the Sphere

Standards?

Standard: Existing shelter and settlement solutions

are prioritized through the return or hosting of

disaster-affected households, and the security,

health, safety and well-being of the affected

population are ensured.

Shelter Standard 1: Strategic Planning

Key Indicators:Priority is given to settlements in the following order

site of original dwellings, host community or host

family, mass shelters/camps.Risk Assessment risk from both physical security

and natural or man-made hazards is minimizedProperty Ownership or Land-Use Permission has

been obtained before a camp is settledWater/Sanitation and Social Services are available or

can be made available

Transportation InfrastructureAccess to household livelihoods is available

(markets, land, etc.)

Shelter Standard 1: Strategic Planning

This graph was prepared by the Sheltre Center, Geneva, Switzerland

Standard: Local physical planning practices are

used where possible, enabling safe and secure

access to and use of shelters and essential

services and facilities, as well as ensuring

appropriate privacy and separation between

individual household shelters.

Shelter Standard 2: Physical Planning

Key Indicators:

Space Planning takes into account the culture so that

the camps are in sizes that can be self-managedAccess to water, sanitation, solid waste disposal, and

social facilitiesSelf-settled camps are based on a minimum surface

area of 45m2 per person. (This area includes household plots, paths, roads, social facilities,

sanitation, administration, etc.)

Roads and Pathways allow access and emergency evacuation while maintaining security

Vector risks are minimized

Shelter Standard 2: Physical Planning

What does45 m2 per person

mean?

1 acre (210 by 210) is 4050 m2. Therefore, each

acre could hold approximately 90 people.

What are Vector Risks?

Vectors risks are diseases that are associated with insects and

other types of pests. Mostly

avoided by limiting standing/stagnant water.

Most vulnerable are pregnant or nursing mothers, infants and young children, the elderly, and those already

weakened by other sickness or malnutrition.

Standard: People have sufficient covered space

to provide dignified accommodation. Essential

household activities can be satisfactorily

undertaken, and livelihood support activities can

be pursued as required.

Shelter Standard 3: Covered Living Space

Key Indicators:The homes have a minimum of 3.5m2 covered area

per person.The home allows for safe separation/privacy for

males and females and different age groups.

There is enough space for essential household activities

Livelihood support activities are accomodated when possible

Shelter Standard 3: Covered Living Space

What does 3.5 m2 per

person mean?

A 1000 ft.2 house (approximately 93 m2) could house

26 people! It is critical to know the average family

size, types of activities in the house, and cultural

implications of different designs in order to be

effective.A family of 6 requires a 15ft x 15ft (4.6m x 4.6m) shelter

Standard: The design of the shelter is

acceptable to the affected population and

provides sufficient thermal comfort, fresh air and