When Every Day Counts: How Modular Builds Help After Disaster

When disaster strikes - whether that be from hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes, or most recently, the floods in central Texas - communities need fast, reliable solutions to restore housing, schools, and essential infrastructure. No construction industry does that better than modular manufacturers. 

Over the course of the early to mid-2000s, modular construction has been used in reconstruction efforts at several disaster sites including: New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, Haiti after the 2010 7.0 earthquake, California after the Paradise Wildfire, and more recently Maui after the Lahaina Wildfires in 2023.

Modular Construction

Modular homes involve building the structures off-site in a controlled factory environment before being transferred to their final location for quick assembly. This approach offers several key benefits in disaster relief zones:

Speed Matters

When a community is faced with severe devastation to residential communities, they need shelter and they need it quickly. Modular homes can be built in factories while the damaged area can be cleared and prepped before being placed. In the case of the Lahaina fires, the first 15 homes were produced in just 2 weeks, and the first 169 in 60 DAYS (Modular Building Institute). In addition to the production of the housing unit, modular homes can be delivered as full turnkey units, meaning furniture can be in the home as they are being transported and set. This takes away the stress of families having to locate and source furniture, and allows them to simply focus on rebuilding their lives.

Consistent Quality

Because the modular units are built off-site in controlled environments they face zero delays due to weather conditions that may be present in the affected area. They can also ensure they have plenty of the necessary materials so they don’t deal with shortages. The key difference with modular homes is that they are built to all local codes, meaning that they are going to last for 40-50 years and appreciate at the same rate as surrounding real estate. This long term housing tackles two issues that occur in the wake of disasters simultaneously. Firstly, the need for immediate housing, and secondly, the long term homelessness crisis.

Scalability & Flexibility

Modular construction allows for the mass production of standardized units, a necessary component in large-scale disaster response. Their production line method guarantees faster assembly and incredibly reliant repeatability. In addition to the rate of construction, these basic layouts can be designed to comply with Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS). When designing the units for Lahaina Tommy Rakes, CEO of Guerdon, stated “we built some means and methods into the design so that if a standard tub had to come out and an ADA shower had to be installed, it was not a major rebuild”(Modular Building Institute). This flexibility ensures timely installation and recognizes the need for handicap accessibility in disaster relief housing.

Cost Effective & Sustainability

Because these homes are often priced by the unit and built in controlled environments, they typically cost about the same price as a HUD trailer. The difference is that unlike HUD trailers, they are built to local codes, making them long term housing. The Stafford Act was enacted in 1988 to provide federal assistance for disasters; however, one of the downsides is that it only allows temporary housing for up to 18 months - rarely enough time for a family that’s lost everything to get back on their feet. These modular units can stay put for as long as necessary and can even be picked up and moved to different locations if required. They can even be repurposed and sold after the unit has filled a community’s need post-disaster, allowing the government to make its money back.

Modular construction is all about speed, quality, and repeatability - three necessities for post disaster housing. Between the rapid build times, code abiding structures, and cost effectiveness, the modular industry isn’t just revolutionizing new home construction, it’s changing the way we give shelter to those who have none in the aftermath of nature's most unforgiving events.