emergency shelters for earthquake victims in haiti

8/14/2019 Emergency Shelters for Earthquake Victims in Haiti

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We built this great wonder before because we

thought we could. We can do it again if we think

we can. First, we must become ONE.YES WE CAN.

Over the past 206 years of its existence, Haiti has experienced a

multitude of disasters, yet none compare to the earthquake that

occurred on 1/12/2010, a disaster of Biblical proportion. The

amount of devastation that was inflicted on Port-au-Prince withinthe longest minute in Haitian history is comparable to the

destruction of Hiroshima caused by the Atom bomb during World

War II. Two of the nations most prominent landmarks, the

national palace and the cathedral, have been turned to rubble. In

Boucan Belier, two mountains collapsed into each other becoming


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one. Choucoune was critically wounded, but the situation is not

yet fatal.

Each of these previous disasters have either prevented Haiti from

evolving, or caused it to devolve further. Is it possible that thesituation could get any worse? Yes it can, and if we do not act fast,

it will. We cannot stop nature in its fury, but we can find efficient

ways to adapt and to survive.

We presently have a humanitarian disaster on our hands; however,

we also have a surprisingly generous world that cries with us, pains

for us, and supports us during our greatest time of need.

We are under no illusions that it will require decades to rebuild

what was lost; however, the dispossessed people of Haiti, Mother

Nature, and the generosity of a world in the midst of a worldwide

economic crisis cannot wait that long. We must therefore unite

forces, while acting selflessly and hurriedly. We must leave behind

the pettiness of our ways, and act as never before. We must use

this momentum to quickly create stability, order, and to reinvent

ourselves.

Proposition:

To build short term earthquake emergency shelters. These same

shelters can also be used during the hurricane season as emergency

shelters, and if no longer needed, can be recycled for public work

usage, like water ways, bridges and others.

These shelters are not intended to be used as a substitute for longterm urban housing planning, but can continue to be used as

emergency shelters for the foreseeable future, especially during the

hurricane seasons. This warning is because in Haiti, short term has

a tendency to become long term or even permanent.


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These shelters should be:

1: Mobile and safe

2: Not very expensive to build and maintain

3: Very durable4: Hurricane resistant

5: Wind resistant

6: Flood resistant

7: Earthquake resistant

8: Fire resistant

9: Bullet resistant

Fortunately, a structure that meets these requirements alreadyexists in the form of cylindrical rooms made from reinforced

concrete pipes. They were designed by Andreas Strauss, and were

first manifested in nearby Ottensheim, at the prestigious Das Park

Hotel in Austria.

These reinforced concrete pipes are the same type currently used

for water drainage systems. They range in size from 9 to 13 feet in

diameter, 8 to 12 feet in length. There is also a box version of

similar dimension that may be considered even more useful.

The Andreas Strauss model contains a door with a lock mounted

on the front end, and a wood wall at the opposite end. Inside the

cylindrical room there is a large bed, and a nightstand with a lamp

in it. There is a large space under the bed for storage.

The back walls of these rooms were painted by the Austrian artist

Thomas Latzel Ochoa, to provide a home like and friendlyexperience. These structures are scattered on the Austrian hotel

grounds as rooms under the stars, and are rented out to guests.

See pictures below.


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Cost.

These units are nearly indestructible, but are very costly. The price

increases significantly when the costs of importation are also

calculated. One solution to this problem is if the country were able

to resuscitate Cement DHaiti, or to create or resuscitate a

company dealing in steel. This solution could create an abundance

of jobs while providing the necessary materials simultaneously.

There should be a law that makes the importation of any product

that can also be made in Haiti illegal. If that method provesimprobable, then that same product should be taxed in such a way

that it would cost at least 10% more than a comparable local

product of the same quality.

Design:

The design examples for both the box and the cylindrical structures

were copied from tinyhousedesign.com. Written permission was

not obtained from the designers, and these designs are legally the

intellectual property of their creators. What they show; however, is

the versatility of the products to create an advanced dwelling that

even contains a kitchen and bathroom.


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We have made these suggestions to help rebuild the infrastructure

of Haiti. They are only suggestions to help alleviate an emergency

situation and one that may shortly become much worse. We are

well aware of what these structures are, and what they may

represent to some, and are likewise well aware of theirshortcomings. Despite this, we must face the fact that we need to

act quickly. These structures are not perfect, but are sufficient to

protect the residents of Haiti against the elements, even against

further earthquakes, while we rebuild a more modern system for

them.

This system is quick and completely reusable. The structures can

be inserted and blended into the surrounding hills to make themless visible, elevate them from overflowing water, and make them

thermal neutral. With some imagination, they may even be able to

help with erosion and landslides.

Thank you.

This information is given freely to any person or organization that

can make use of it in Haiti. Free consultation will be given to any

such person or organization that is willing to implement these

ideas. This is our contribution.

GEOMILO group

USAFor the evolutionevolution of Haiti

Georges Milord

727-399-0560

emergency shelters for earthquake victims in haiti

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