The Gulf Coast Rose Fellows recently gave a presentation that explored best practices for disaster response. Their report was derived from lessons learned from the ground in the months and years after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita; on pieces of the recovery and rebuilding that were successful, and pieces that were lacking or nonexistent. The report expanded on the role of the existing community and advocated for disaster responses to tap into local formal and informal infrastructures. The fellows challenged the role of designers in the response effort and identified areas where they could play a greater role, but also acknowledged that there are times when architects and designers aren’t the most appropriate resource to have on hand.
The presentation was broken down into three chronological phases that follow a disaster and talked about best practices for each phase, as well as appropriate anticipatory measures to mitigate losses in future catastrophic events. Common elements persisted throughout the three phases, often morphing slightly to meet the changing needs of the population in the years after the storm.
The fellows are currently working on drafting the presentation into a format for wider distribution.