Modular Building for Urban Disaster Housing: Case Study of Urban Post-Disaster Housing Prototype in New York

Abstract

Disasters that destroy homes and infrastructure and cause significant financial damage are becoming more common aspopulation centers grow. In addition, several natural disasters have resulted in a major loss of life and created countlessrefugees due to damage to housing. After major catastrophic disasters, it is very important that the government agenciesrespond to post-disaster housing issues and provide resources such as temporary housing before the full rehabilitation andreconstruction of destroyed and damaged housing. To provide affordable temporary housing for residents who may losetheir homes as the result of a catastrophic disaster including storms, government agencies must develop a post-disasterhousing prototype. In general, government agencies should explore several different forms of factory-built single-story,single family housing, such as modular homes, panelized homes, and precut homes. In urban cities including New Yorkand Seoul, it is very important to provide housing which supports the demand for higher-density living spaces than singlefamilyhomes or trailers typically available due to the high population density and the desire to resettle as many residentsas possible in their former neighborhoods. This study identified the urban post-disaster housing prototypes that may providehigher density housing with high quality living spaces, high air quality, and energy efficiency as well as rapid deployment. A case study of “Urban Post-Disaster Housing Prototype Program in New York” was conducted through a detailedinterview process with a designer, engineer, contractor, the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) in New York, theU.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), and temporary occupants. An appropriate disaster housing program that canprovide living spaces for victims of disasters that keeps residents in their community and allows them to live and work intheir neighborhoods was developed.