Staffers ready FEMA’s mobile hospital in Louisville, MS. Photo: Mike Koplitz/FEMA
When natural disasters strike, rapid response is vital to bringing aid into an affected community. Ongoing support is also needed to get the community back on its feet. Whether it’s organizing and distributing relief supplies, providing temporary housing for displaced residents, offering transitional offices to get employees back to work, or the rebuilding of businesses and homes, many organizations must quickly come together for effective relief and recovery.
Residents of Louisville, Mississippi came together after a tornado destroyed their local hospital in April. For the first time, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) brought in a new National Mobile Disaster Hospital to get hospital employees back to work and to provide much-needed medical services. It was a temporary solution that filled a significant need.
Modular construction, like the mobile hospital in Louisville, has proven to be one of the biggest aids for immediate disaster relief and sustained recovery. From the moment first responders arrive, through to the rebuilding of permanent structures, modular buildings fit a variety of needs that help communities recover faster.
Here are three ways modular buildings can be used after a disaster:
1. Immediate Relief
Mobile offices can be put to use immediately following a disaster. This can help with the distribution of food and water, emergency medical care, and provide recovery teams with a command center on the ground.
2. Temporary Infrastructure
Modular buildings are easily configured for multiple uses. A modular complex could be used for office, retail, or public space. Other buildings can offer temporary housing in barracks or bunkhouses, or even private housing for families. Portable storage units can also be brought in to protect valuable items for community officials or private citizens.
3. Permanent Rebuilding
Permanent modular buildings can be ready in half the time of traditional construction. In fact, new buildings can be under construction in a factory while the community is still clearing the sites where they’ll be placed. This saves even more time in the rebuilding process.
In the event of a disaster, time is of the essence. Planning ahead is essential. Knowing which types of modular buildings would be suitable for emergency aid and disaster recovery can help city officials make the right decisions, fast.
Tell us in the comments — Does your city or company have a disaster plan?
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