---
title: Disaster Relief
description: Simplus Building System is a better alternative than tents and shanty towns. Easy to ship, quick to assemble, energy efficient and versatile uses.
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---

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# Disaster Relief

As Climate Change causes more natural disasters, as it causes more people to flee inhospitable environments, as war and conflicts create waves of refugees seeking escape from life-threatening events, temporary housing is becoming more and more in demand and vital to provide to those people.  Governments and Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) often only have tarps and tents to supply, which are inadequate for many climates and especially for long-term occupancy. 

The Simplus Building System offers better alternatives than tents and the shanty towns that often result from unmet housing needs.  The Simplus panels are able to be "flat packed" in an unassembled package of floors, walls, and roofs and then delivered to places where they can be quickly and easily assembled, using only standard manual or power tools.  Foundation blocks, windows, doors, interior and exterior finishes, and mechanical systems can be provided to the levels desired by the supplying agency.  With the highly insulative properties of the Simplus panels, the need for mechanical conditioning is greatly reduced, and much smaller, more efficient systems powered by photovoltaic (PV) can be utilized, eliminating the need for extensive infrastructure.  Sizes of such relief units can be as small as just 3-panels formed into a temporary "Pup Tent" shelter, or into full height rooms starting at 8'x8' in area.

The emergency relief housing can also later be turned into permanent housing with additions of similar prefabricated packages of materials.  If desired, the temporary housing can also be disassembled and relocated to another location or put back into inventory.

Other supportive structures are also available, such as medical clinics, schools, cafeterias, police, and working environments.  Regardless of the structure, the Simplus panels provide safety, security, durability, and comfort not available from most other solutions.

### Examples of Disaster Relief Projects

- ![Emergency Housing in a "Village"](https://www.sweeney.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Disaster%20Relief/Gallery-IDisaster-Relief-_0008s_0000_01.%20School_49%20-%20Foto.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&name=Gallery-IDisaster-Relief-_0008s_0000_01.%20School_49%20-%20Foto.jpg)
  
   Possible Emergency Housing   
  in a "Village" layout with   
  small neighborhoods for   
  individual identity and security
- ![Prototypical Medical Clinic](https://www.sweeney.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Disaster%20Relief/Gallery-IDisaster-Relief-_0008s_0008_01.%20Hospital_%20Floor%20plan.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&name=Gallery-IDisaster-Relief-_0008s_0008_01.%20Hospital_%20Floor%20plan.jpg)
  
   Plan, Prototypical   
  Medical Clinic
- ![Medical Clinic or Small Hospital](https://www.sweeney.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Disaster%20Relief/Gallery-IDisaster-Relief-_0008s_0006_01.%20Hospital_2%20-%20Foto.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&name=Gallery-IDisaster-Relief-_0008s_0006_01.%20Hospital_2%20-%20Foto.jpg)
  
   Aerial View of   
  Covered Entry to Prototypical   
  Medical Clinic or Small Hospital
- ![Interior view of a Prototypical Cafeteria](https://www.sweeney.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Disaster%20Relief/Gallery-IDisaster-Relief-_0008s_0014_01.%20Cafeteria_33%20-%20Panel.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&name=Gallery-IDisaster-Relief-_0008s_0014_01.%20Cafeteria_33%20-%20Panel.jpg)
  
   Interior view of a   
  Prototypical Cafeteria with   
  large tables to maximize capacity.    
  Smaller, round tables can be   
  used for a less institutional feel.
- ![Courtyard view of small neighborhood](https://www.sweeney.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Disaster%20Relief/Gallery-IDisaster-Relief-_0008s_0011_01.%20Disaster%20Relief_11%20-%20Foto.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&name=Gallery-IDisaster-Relief-_0008s_0011_01.%20Disaster%20Relief_11%20-%20Foto.jpg)
  
   Courtyard view of   
  small neighborhood for   
  Prototypical Emergency Housing.
- ![Open-air school](https://www.sweeney.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Disaster%20Relief/Gallery-IDisaster-Relief-_0008s_0018_01.%20School_50%20-%20Foto.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&name=Gallery-IDisaster-Relief-_0008s_0018_01.%20School_50%20-%20Foto.jpg)
  
   Open-air school with   
  a variety of spaces for   
  hands-on, project-based,   
  product-producing learning.
- ![Emergency Housing](https://www.sweeney.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Disaster%20Relief/Gallery-IDisaster-Relief-_0008s_0012_01.%20Disaster%20Relief_7%20-%20Foto.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&name=Gallery-IDisaster-Relief-_0008s_0012_01.%20Disaster%20Relief_7%20-%20Foto.jpg)
  
   Prototypical Emergency   
  Housing Unit with secure,   
  insulated panels for doors   
  and ventilation openings.    
  ERVs are also applicable.
- ![flat-packed emergency housing unit](https://www.sweeney.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Banners/parallax-banner-_0001_Disaster-Relief.jpg?width=1508&height=1000&name=parallax-banner-_0001_Disaster-Relief.jpg)
  
   View of a typical   
  flat-packed emergency   
  housing unit ready   
  for assembly.
- ![Exterior view of Cafeteria](https://www.sweeney.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Disaster%20Relief/Gallery-IDisaster-Relief-_0008s_0015_01.%20Cafeteria_32%20-%20panel.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&name=Gallery-IDisaster-Relief-_0008s_0015_01.%20Cafeteria_32%20-%20panel.jpg)
  
   Exterior view of   
  Prototypical Cafeteria,   
  rear side, showing   
  panels with no siding.
- ![Emergency Housing](https://www.sweeney.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Disaster%20Relief/Gallery-IDisaster-Relief-_0008s_0010_01.%20Disaster%20Relief_24%20-%20Foto.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&name=Gallery-IDisaster-Relief-_0008s_0010_01.%20Disaster%20Relief_24%20-%20Foto.jpg)
  
   Exploded View of   
  Prototypical Emergency Housing,   
  sized same as UNHCR Family Tent
- ![ Emergency Clinic or Small Hospital](https://www.sweeney.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Disaster%20Relief/Gallery-IDisaster-Relief-_0008s_0004_01.%20Hospital_8%20-%20Foto.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&name=Gallery-IDisaster-Relief-_0008s_0004_01.%20Hospital_8%20-%20Foto.jpg)
  
   Front side of   
  Prototypical Emergency Clinic   
  or Small Hospital
- ![Open-air school "Family" ](https://www.sweeney.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Disaster%20Relief/Gallery-IDisaster-Relief-_0008s_0003_01.%20School_42%20-%20Foto.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&name=Gallery-IDisaster-Relief-_0008s_0003_01.%20School_42%20-%20Foto.jpg)
  
   Open-air school "Family" for   
  approximately 100 learners,   
  featuring polycarbonate   
  jalousie windows for ventilation.
- ![ Emergency Clinic or Small Hospital without roof](https://www.sweeney.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Disaster%20Relief/Gallery-IDisaster-Relief-_0008s_0007_01.%20Hospital_%20perspective.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&name=Gallery-IDisaster-Relief-_0008s_0007_01.%20Hospital_%20perspective.jpg)
  
   Aerial Perspective of   
  Prototypical Emergency Clinic or   
  Small Hospital without the roof
- ![Interior view of Prototypical Cafeteria](https://www.sweeney.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Disaster%20Relief/Gallery-IDisaster-Relief-_0008s_0013_01.%20Cafeteria_35%20-%20Foto.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&name=Gallery-IDisaster-Relief-_0008s_0013_01.%20Cafeteria_35%20-%20Foto.jpg)
  
   Interior view of   
  Prototypical Cafeteria with   
  long tables for   
  maximum capacity.
- ![ Cafeteria, rear side, showing panels ](https://www.sweeney.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Disaster%20Relief/Gallery-IDisaster-Relief-_0008s_0016_01.%20Cafeteria_32%20-%20Foto.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&name=Gallery-IDisaster-Relief-_0008s_0016_01.%20Cafeteria_32%20-%20Foto.jpg)
  
   Exterior view of   
  Prototypical Cafeteria,   
  rear side, showing panels   
  with vertical metal siding added.
- ![Elementary School Playground](https://www.sweeney.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Disaster%20Relief/Gallery-IDisaster-Relief-_0008s_0002_01.%20School_44%20-%20Foto.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&name=Gallery-IDisaster-Relief-_0008s_0002_01.%20School_44%20-%20Foto.jpg)
  
   Prototypical   
  Elementary School   
  Playground
- ![Emergency Clinic or Small Hospital.](https://www.sweeney.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Disaster%20Relief/Gallery-IDisaster-Relief-_0008s_0005_01.%20Hospital_4%20-%20Foto.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&name=Gallery-IDisaster-Relief-_0008s_0005_01.%20Hospital_4%20-%20Foto.jpg)
  
   Exterior Entry view of   
  Prototypical Emergency Clinic   
  or Small Hospital.
- ![Central Work Area of school](https://www.sweeney.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Disaster%20Relief/Gallery-IDisaster-Relief-_0008s_0001_01.%20School_47%20-%20Foto.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&name=Gallery-IDisaster-Relief-_0008s_0001_01.%20School_47%20-%20Foto.jpg)
  
   Interior view of   
  Central Work Area of   
  a Prototypical Hands-on   
  Learning-based School
- ![Floor Plan Emergency Cafeteria](https://www.sweeney.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Disaster%20Relief/Gallery-IDisaster-Relief-_0008s_0017_01.%20Cafeteria_31%20-%20Foto.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&name=Gallery-IDisaster-Relief-_0008s_0017_01.%20Cafeteria_31%20-%20Foto.jpg)
  
   Floor Plan, Prototypical   
  Emergency Cafeteria

### More Information

Learn more about how Sweeney Architecture can help you with disaster relief and emergency buildings.

Schedule a free one-hour consultation, or download a booklet on penalizationation, passive house designs, and more.

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