ABSTRACT
Following a disaster, residents are able to decrease recovery time, reestablish routines, and get “back to normal” when they have access to permanent housing solutions (Fothergill and Peek 2015; Masterson et. al, 2014; Peacock et al. 2007; Quarantelli 1982). Traditionally, post-disaster housing is standardized, top-down, cultural insensitive, and often rejected by residents. Additionally, post-disaster temporary housing does not consider disaster-resistant designs or mitigation strategies that other, more permanent designs explore. This chapter conducts a qualitative assessment of 21 reports from disasters since 2005 as it relates to design decisions and construction of post-disaster housing. We identify a number of best practices for design decisions–including designs and materials that fit the local context, homeowner choice in site selection, and “grow home approach”–and construction–including using local contractors, establishing pre-procurement, and utilizing sustainable methods that reduce costs over time.
