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New Federal Guidelines and AIA Housing Summit Help Address Katrina Rebuilding Issues One Year Later
FEMA adopts AIA recommendations for gulf coast rebuilding; homeowners get advice from architects on residential challenges
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For Immediate Release |
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Washington, D.C., August 24,
2006 — As the first anniversary of Hurricane Katrina approaches, there
is movement at both the federal and local level that aims to assist
displaced Gulf Coast residents. The Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) recently announced new guidelines to address
transitional housing concerns. In addition, the New Orleans chapter
of The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is organizing a
Housing Summit to help educate homeowners on how to properly
rebuild and restore their homes, as well as advise them on ways to
wisely spend the monies they became eligible for through the
Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Development Block
Grant Program. The summit is scheduled to take place at the New
Orleans Convention Center on September 29th and 30th.
To help residents who lost their homes entirely, the FEMA plan to
create an alternative housing pilot program for the hurricane
ravaged Gulf Coast region is based on the requirements in H.R. 4939
Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act. The AIA lobbied heavily
in support of the bill and the language mirrors several
recommendations outlined in a letter from AIA Executive Vice
President and Chief Executive Officer, Christine McEntee to Michael
Chertoff, Secretary of U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
in June 2006.
FEMA will use the $400 million funding from the bill for projects
that create transitional modular housing for hurricane victims with
improved hurricane resistance and can be constructed quickly, using
prefabricated panelized walls. The initial concept is based on
“Katrina cottages,” designed by architects that can
withstand 140-mph winds, resulting in a more comfortable, and
affordable alternative to a trailer.
“In the immediate aftermath of the hurricane devastation, the
AIA warned of the problems associated with relying too heavily on
temporary trailers to accommodate displaced residents,” said
Tom Wolfe, AIA senior director, Federal Affairs. “A rebuilding
effort of this magnitude demands that careful attention is paid to
sound, long-term planning and design elements that emphasize the
highest building codes to protect against future natural disasters,
not merely supplying the easiest shelter option
available.”
Because temporary housing can end up lasting far longer than
initially anticipated, community design elements must be used to
guide the rebuilding program. Careful consideration should be made
to ensure that public safety issues are addressed, strict building
codes are adhered to, and access to public transportation, retail,
recreation, and worship facilities are available in areas that will
use transitional housing solutions.
AIA 10 Principles of Livable Communities: http://www.aia.org/liv_principles
Wolfe continued, “We are encouraged that the federal
government has supplied strong funding to support this undertaking
and that FEMA is receptive to rebuilding concerns for the
preservation of the historic architectural landscape, the need for
environmentally conscious design principles, and for local
professionals to be utilized to create sustainable communities that
pay respect to the rich heritage of the Gulf Coast.”
Highlights of the DHS and FEMA Alternative Housing Pilot
Program:
• Favors context-sensitive housing that reflects consideration
of transportation access and civic amenities
• Recognizes the need to consider energy efficiency and
historic preservation
• Acknowledges the need to take into account the unique
hazards of coastal flooding, and wind, as well as conformity to the
local building codes
• Specifically calls for meeting the needs of persons with
disabilities
• Advocates for housing of a design and style that will have a
positive social impact on the community and the evolution of
community social structures
FEMA and DHS’s Office of Grants and Training will administer
the program. The states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Texas,
and Florida will then submit applications to address the housing
needs in their jurisdictions. FEMA will use a Selection Committee
made up of governmental representatives and a broad cross-section
of housing experts, including “private sector and
not-for-profit organizations with housing policy, architectural and
construction expertise” to evaluate proposals and make
recommendations to the Department for awards.
About The American Institute of
Architects
For almost 150 years, members of The American Institute of
Architects have worked with each other and their communities to
create more valuable, healthy, secure, and sustainable buildings
and cityscapes. AIA members have access to the right people,
knowledge, and tools to create better design, and through such
resources and access, they help clients and communities make their
visions real.
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