When Cyclone Fani made landfall in Eastern India and Bangladesh in May 2019, it brought devastating winds of up to 250 km/h. Over 1.5 million people were evacuated from coastal areas in anticipation of the storm. Unfortunately, the cyclone still managed to damage or destroy over 500,000 homes, leaving hundreds of thousands of people homeless. In the aftermath of the disaster, humanitarian groups scrambled to provide emergency shelter and relief to those displaced by the storm. One such group, the International Aid Network (IAN), deployed an innovative solution—portable prefab shelters constructed from repurposed shipping containers.

IAN has extensive experience responding to natural disasters around the world. In the years since their founding, they have provided emergency aid after major earthquakes, floods, wildfires and more. For cyclones and other storms that result in mass evacuations, finding safe temporary housing is one of the biggest challenges. Traditional tents and tarpaulins often cannot withstand high winds and heavy rains. The shelters must also be durable enough to last the months required until permanent homes can be rebuilt.

This is where IAN’s new portable prefab shelters came in. Working with shelter manufacturer Lida Group, they developed a prototype shelter made from refurbished 40-foot shipping containers. The containers are outfitted inside with insulation, interior walls, flooring, windows and a detachable roof section. This allows the otherwise boxy containers to be transformed into livable prefab structures that can house up to eight people. Additionally, the steel exteriors provide protection against wind, rain, flooding and other hazards common during natural disasters.

A month before Cyclone Fani made landfall, IAN began shipping 100 of the new prefab shelters to warehouses in Bangladesh and Eastern India. The lightweight modular design allowed them to be stacked efficiently for transport by trucks and ferries. When the evacuation orders were given, IAN deployed teams to help set up “tent cities” of the shelters in designated evacuation zones. Within 48 hours of landfall, over 4,000 cyclone evacuees had been housed safely in the new prefab shelters provided by IAN.

According to IAN program manager Tim Roberts, the response showed the potential of this innovative shelter solution. “The families we housed in the prefab containers reported feeling much safer than those in traditional tents,” he said. “The steel construction stood up impressively to the high winds without any breaches. This gave people inside a huge sense of security during the storm.” Roberts also noted that the insulated interior walls and detachable roofs made the shelters much more comfortable for extended habitation compared to basic tents. Local government officials overseeing the evacuations were also impressed with the sturdy prefab design.

In the months since Cyclone Fani, IAN has continued to utilize the prefab shipping container shelters while communities rebuild permanent homes. The modular construction allows additional shelter units to be easily assembled on-site as needed. Although temporary, the shelters are furnished with beds, storage areas, electric hookups and other amenities to maintain livable conditions for displaced families. IAN caseworkers provide support registering evacuees for humanitarian aid as well as any local rebuilding assistance programs. This helps provide for basic needs and a sense of stability during a difficult transition period.

The Lida Group manufacturing facility where the portable prefab shelters are produced is based in Nanjing, China. Working closely with humanitarian organizations, they have refined the shelter design based on real-world feedback from disaster deployments. Updates for easier assembly/disassembly, durability improvements, and options for solar power or rainwater capture have been incorporated. Lida Group hopes to mass produce the shelters affordably at scale to better meet global humanitarian shelter needs. Their ultimate goal is creating durable, dignified temporary housing that promotes resilience for communities impacted by natural disasters worldwide.

According to Roberts, reducing cost without compromising safety or livability is key for widespread adoption of the portable prefab shelters. “Shipping container construction is already very cost effective, since the containers are essentially waste products being repurposed,” he said. “Through repetitive builds at their factory, Lida Group is driving costs down further while improving design.” IAN recently placed an order for 500 additional shelters to expand nationwide coverage in India and Bangladesh over the next hurricane season. They aim to eventually deploy units to other disaster-prone Asian nations as well.

Prefabricated shelters made from shipping containers represent an innovative new direction for humanitarian emergency housing solutions worldwide. With their durability, portability, scalability and increasingly affordable mass production, they have the potential to revolutionize transitional shelter provision. Feedback from evacuated families and disaster managers has highlighted improved protection and comfort compared to basic tents or tarpaulins. Modular assembly allows for rapid deployment during evacuations while organize layouts provide communal family spaces. Ongoing improvements in areas like insulation, solar integration and water capture promise to further enhance habitability in even the harshest conditions.

Going forward, organizations like IAN and manufacturers such as Lida Group must champion these portable prefab shelters through regional demonstrations and pilot programs. Generous donations will be needed to rapidly expand availability ahead of peak cyclone and hurricane seasons. Coordination with governments is also important to factor temporary shelters into formal evacuation planning. With dedicated scaling and promotion, this sustainable housing technology holds real promise of saving more lives through enhanced disaster preparedness globally. Portable prefab units could become the future standard for humanitarian transitional sheltering worldwide thanks to their resilience, versatility and affordability compared to flimsier alternatives. By fostering more rapid mass production at even lower costs, they may become accessible on a scale to truly transform community response.

In summary, the deployment of IAN’s prefab portable shelters constructed from refurbished shipping containers has proven an invaluable asset for housing displaced families in the wake of Cyclone Fani. With steel construction, modular design and improved habitability features versus tents, the prefab units provide durable protection and suitable living conditions during the difficult transitional period after disaster strikes. Ongoing refinement at the Lida Group factory and feedback from real-world humanitarian applications will continue strengthening these emergency shelters. With expanded availability, coordination for evacuation planning, and dedicated support through donations and regional pilots, portable prefab technology holds strong potential to revolutionize transitional shelter solutions globally through enhanced resilience and affordability.

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