Preparation: Measure Twice and Cut Once
Before deciding how to rebuild after cyclone Freddy, we did some due diligence on local housing construction methods and materials.
We found a local reference that provides some construction methods insight and history of Malawi’s region.
A building classification scheme of housing stock in Malawi for earthquake risk assessment (PDF Document)
Here are some useful quotations from this reference:
“Malawi is a landlocked country in Sub-Saharan Africa. The country ranks 171th worldwide according to the 2018 Human Development Index (HDI-UNDP 2018), and faces various economic and social challenges, including population growth, poverty, a volatile economy, and fast-degrading environment….”
“…Malawi is prone to multiple natural hazards, including floods, drought, strong winds, hailstorms, landslides and earthquakes. The potential impact of major disasters on local communities in Malawi is high. Over the period between 1979 and 2010, more than 21.7 million people were cumulatively affected by natural disasters, claiming more than 2500 fatalities (Government of Malawi 2015b). In recent years, floods have caused major damage and loss to numerous cities and townships in the Lower Shire Basin…”
“…Responding to the recent crises triggered by natural hazard events, the Government of Malawi published the national disaster risk management policy and aimed at promoting more coordinated actions by various governmental departments and non-governmental organisations to achieve disaster risk reduction and effective sustainable development (Government of Malawi 2015b)…”
At Wisdoms-house.com , we are coordinating our actions as mentioned above to include the following:
1) Developing sound construction methods,
2) Coordinating resources and manpower
3) Encouraging local training to begin a new legacy
This vision and outreach is inspired from the these biblical passages: Matt 7:24-29, Luke 10:36-37, and Luke 16:8-10
See this link for housing types that we find suitable for our implementation.
