Concrete Roof Tiles, puzolanic cement, earth houses, ecomaterials: EcoSur

George, Lilly, Mitch, Lilli, Michelle, Ivan, Charly...

After Hurricane Michelle passed through the Caribbean and Central America in November of last year, an article in the Guardian drew attention to the great differences in damage between Cuba and its neighbors, not only in this hurricane but others throughout the past decades:  "Whatever the reasons, Cuba has lessons for the rest of us." 

Guatemala  earthquake 1976: In a nutshell, it was reconstruction in a sustainable manner, concentrating on setting examples of earthquake resistant adobe houses affordable to the general public.

(based upon 2001 evaluation of adobe houses by University of San Carlos team)

After Hurricane Mitch devastated much of Central America, EcoSouth colleagues Grupo Sofonias Nicaragua, EcoVide Honduras and CIDEM Cuba became involved in post-disaster reconstruction.

After Hurricane Mitch devastated much of Central America, EcoSouth colleagues Grupo Sofonias Nicaragua, EcoVide Honduras and CIDEM Cuba became involved in post-disaster reconstruction.

Three weeks after Hurricane George ravaged the Dominican Republic in September 1998, EcoSouth colleagues from Ecuador and Honduras visited houses built with EcoMaterials and encountered the great majority in good condition.

Gilbert is the strongest hurricane in Jamaican recorded history (wind speeds to 320 km/h).

Many roofs suffered serious damage, but the Golden Age Home in Kingston´s Trench Town became a refuge for neighbors whose tin roofs had flown away. Its Micro Concrete Roof resisted well and only five tiles on the open overhang were lifted. It must be stressed that these tiles were not properly fixed as recommended, even worse, the wire loops were not nailed down!

It is a long hard road until construction projects integrate disaster prevention into their project planning. It is the dream of EcoSouth to influence development projects in this direction, prior to the onslaught of catastrophes.

Recurring natural disasters tend to capture the public attention, but sometimes little is learned from successful reconstruction experiences. Thus, we wish to highlight a post-earthquake reconstruction project in Guatemala after the devastating earthquake of February 4, 1976, a project that has withstood the test of time and several strong earth tremors.

A resettlement project in Malacatoya brought villagers from flood risk zones into a safer haven. Not only is the new settlement located in a higher zone where an inundation has never occurred, its design incorporates many principles to avoid future disasters, and involved the people themselves in the analysis.

Just a month after the Ecomaterials Conference for Disaster Prevention and Relief in Santa Clara, Michelle, the worst hurricane to pass through Cuba in decades, ravaged the island. The province of Villa Clara was among the hardest hit areas.

Originally published as “The Page” in EcoSouth News, March 1999)

A natural disaster was our introduction to development work…the devastating Guatemalan earthquake of 1976. This country was special for us as I had met my husband there and our automatic reaction to news of the earthquake was “What can we do?”