MDS began rebuilding for resiliency in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria in 2017. None of the repaired houses reported roof damage from Hurricane Fiona in 2022.
Rebuilding for resiliency
others who constantly study MDS homes to see how the structures hold up after a hurricane or other disaster. For example, MDS studied 27 homes built after Hurricane Rita hit Cameron Parish in Louisiana in 2005. Built to withstand 140-mph/225-km winds by technically supervised volunteers, every single one of them was intact even after Hurricane Laura brought 150-mph/241-km winds
How does MDS help people become more “hurricane resilient?” What does that really mean? For Johann Zimmerman, principal engineer at JZ Engineering in Harrisonburg, Va., and a long-time MDS consultant, it’s about bridging the gap between research and hurricane resiliency and the way volunteers build homes. Zimmermann doesn’t
Workshop participants build a resilient model house.
only design homes—he tries to design structures that volunteers can build. He’s boiled it down to
Training to become more hurricane resilient is working
four elements needed for resilient construction: 1) technical knowledge and codes; 2) resilient design; 3) financial resources; and 4) trained construction workers. “There are lots of skilled workers in the country, but MDS volunteers need to be trained for resilient techniques,” explained Zimmermann. This can happen on the job, as MDS project directors or crew leaders pass on their own training, or through workshops given by Zimmermann or
12 behind the hammer
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