Disasters like floods, wildfires, hurricanes, and storms are becoming more frequent due to climate change. Millions of people are losing their homes and must quickly rebuild temporary shelters.

From bamboo in Bangladesh to tarps in California, people use local materials and creativity to adapt. Learning from these experiences can help us prepare for disasters in any part of the world. Let’s see how people survive and rebuild after losing their homes.

Sea storm – Bangladesh

Climate: Warm and wet, heavily impacted by rising sea levels and flooding.

Aminul’s family lived in a small village near the coast, but over the years, the sea crept closer and closer. One day, a storm surge flooded their home, washing away not only their house but the very land it stood on. With no place to return to, Aminul and his family moved inland, where they joined other displaced families on a strip of government-provided land.

Using bamboo poles, jute mats, and tarpaulin donated by relief organizations, they built a small temporary shelter. The family raised the shelter on stilts to protect it from future flooding and reinforced the roof with plastic sheets to shield against heavy rains. While they dream of a more stable home, this simple structure is all they have for now.

• Time to Build: 2–3 days (with the help of neighbours and relief organizations).
• Cost: Very cheap ($) – Materials were either salvaged or donated.
• Local Materials: Yes – Bamboo and jute are common

• What are the threats in your area that could cause you to lose your house or roof?
  (For example, floods, storms, fires, or earthquakes.)
• If your house was destroyed, what would you do to build a temporary shelter?
  (What materials would you use? Where would you build it?)