Post-DisasterShould we plan ahead? With disasters occurring almost regularly, it is becoming more and more important to re-build in a proactive manner, planning ahead not for "if", but "when". The tsunami in Indonesia, Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma, and the earthquake in Pakistan all have shown how powerful nature can be.
What's good about a disaster? While the devastating effects of disasters are easily recognizable, it is important to remember that post-disaster areas have a silver lining. Each area is a unique opportunity to re-build a stronger, "green" society. It's as if we are able to go back in time and build everything right, the first time.
Can we rebuild stronger? By building green, Exup can help create a more vibrant, healthy, and robust community than existed before. Using sustainable green building techniques allows communities to withstand the disasters of the future. When the next tsunami, or hurricane, or earthquake hits, we can be ready.
What kinds of structures should be built? Sturdy buildings that power themselves and provide a source of clean and fresh potable water offer solutions to two of the largest problems seen in every post-disaster situation; the need for shelter and water. Imagine hundreds of buildings that each provide electricity and water to their occupants with no outside assistance.
Exup in motion Applied to a post-disaster situation, this can change the next disaster scenario from an immense tragedy to a few days off of work. Scenario: A hurricane hits on the U.S. southern seaboard. Residents hunker down in their new ICF homes, confident of the home's ability to withstand the weather. When the municipal water supplies are contaminated with sea-water or sewage, residents simply switch over to drinking purified rainwater from their cistern.
The power is still on Electricity comes from batteries that have stored solar and wind power over the last few days, and every appliance in the house keeps working. Toilets flush into a modified septic tank, the lights stay on, and a family stays connected to the outside world because the T.V. and radios still work. Food supplies stored in refrigeration don't go bad because the electricity doesn't go out. Instead of a major disaster, with years of re-building, the hurricane turns into two days off of school and work.
Third-world applications Alternatively, another earthquake rumbles through Pakistan. A few homes are destroyed, but the majority have been built to withstand the moving and shaking. Small medical clinics still have power that comes from renewable energy sources, allowing them to treat the wounded. Most residents have access to water stored in cisterns or in wells. Gardens grown with grey-water from a roofwater collection system allow families to produce their own food. Providing the majority of the population with food, shelter, and water allows for an orderly and effective relief effort.
What's the damage? Many buildings that are still standing open their doors to the few that lost their possesions. As the dust settles, people gaze around in wonder, remembering the awesome power of the earthquake. Then they go back to their regular lives. Because so few structures were destroyed, rebuilding is accomplished quickly and efficiently, and life goes on.
What is our post-disaster goal? Exup’s focus in post-disaster environments is on providing schools, clinics, and small homes that will power themselves through the use of renewable energy sources, as well as producing pure, potable water for surrounding areas.
For more information on how to get involved, contact us.
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Post-Disaster