Disaster Mitigation Techniques for Householders Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction Presented by: Stephen Hodges, Team of Consultants

How vulnerable is your home?

Some terms you will hear Disaster – implies that normal systems have been overwhelmed Hazard - such as a flood, which need not be a disaster Mitigation – doing something to lessen or prevent the effects of a hazard (eg. Keep drains clean) Preparation – being ready for the event, (eg. Raise the furniture)

What Hazards do we face? Hurricanes Earthquakes High winds – shake - pressures Storm surge Flooding Landslides Earthquakes Shaking Liquefaction Tsunami

What events can become disasters? A Direct hit by a Hurricane A passing hurricane or storm Flood rains Brush and household fires Tsunami Volcanos

How Hazards become Disasters Hurricane winds damage roofs, fall trees and create flying debris Hurricane waves and boulders damage houses Hurricane storm surge floods homes Intense rains flood homes Fires get out of hand Roads, power and communications get cut

The hazards, the site, shape, design

Earthquakes

Tectonic Plates

Floods

Infrastructure

Siting

Ask about past events

What can be done to reduce vulnerability? Strengthen your house Plant trees Organise the community: to guide water to prevent flooding to keep fire prone areas trimmed to guide water from unstable slopes

Lessen the loads

“In the Caribbean, walls are there Check the Load Path “In the Caribbean, walls are there to hold down the roof”  

Raise the house

Gabion Baskets Use them to train water courses and to protect houses

Train the ghauts

How to “Mitigate” disasters by design Siting is crucial, away from the shoreline where the wind is greatest, the waves threaten and the storm surge (with the waves) can come on land. Raise the house on solid columns to a level above potential floods or storm surges Use a steep roof pitch and short overhangs to lessen the loads on the roof Separating porch and garage roofs from the main roof prevents these more vulnerable elements from damaging the main house if they go

How to “Mitigate” disasters by attention to detail Hurricane winds need not damage your roof if it is securely fastened with sufficient sheeting fixings, hurricane clips, braces and heavy duty roof coverings. Roof edges must be covered and eaves should be “boxed” Hurricane shutters or boarding up protects the windows as well as preventing the wind pressure from getting in and lifting the roof Remember that the walls need to be strong too

Connectors Make sure that the load path for your house is complete Have your builder check for missing connectors

How to “Mitigate” disasters by Maintenance Many houses fail because they are weak from rotten timber, termite attack, rusty clips and nails. Walls that have rotted get blown apart, buildings twist to the ground when braces fail, roofs lift off when connectors give way Regular inspection and replacement of defective elements will keep your house stronger Paint exterior woodwork to keep it dry Fix leaks as soon as they occur, as wet wood rots

How to extend your house Use columns or footings to support the extension that match the main house supports Use a separate frame for the extension and bolt it firmly to the house frame Avoid making corners that can trap the wind

Deterioration

How to “Mitigate” disasters by your action beforehand Keep potential flying debris away from houses, trim nearby trees if tall enough to damage the house if they fall Board up your windows before a storm Keep bushes and shore plants between your house and the sea to prevent wave erosion Keep drains clear to minimize flooding Prepare to raise furniture should it flood Control all sources of fire and fuel, particularly with children around

Fit shutters

Make a flood door

Tidy away potential missiles

The End Thank you for your attention