Disaster Mitigation and Response

PSI works with vulnerable communities to reduce disaster risks, strengthen preparedness, and support recovery through locally relevant and science-based interventions.

A satellite map of a river valley marked with sensor locations

Projects in this area

From our work over the years

1991

Earthquake-safe homes after Uttarkashi

8pagesHindi booklet on EQ-safe housing

After the Uttarkashi earthquake in 1991 we published an 8-page Hindi booklet explaining EQ-safe housing construction principles and methods, using simple line sketches. Later the district administration distributed it in all the villages as an 8-poster set.

We trained local masons to build EQ-safe houses. Publishing literature in local languages, training local masons, working with district authorities and building EQ-safe structures became an established post-EQ response at PSI.

See it on the timeline

Cover of PSI’s Hindi booklet on building earthquake-resistant houses — Our 8-page Hindi booklet on earthquake-safe houses

A tall stone and timber house in the hills, built in the local earthquake-safe style

A man looks at a deep crack in the ground left by the Uttarkashi earthquake

1999

Temporary shelters after disasters

A few thousandtemporary shelters built since 1999

Homeless people need more than a year after a major disaster to build their permanent homes. In the interim they need secure temporary shelters with basic amenities to live.

After the Latur EQ, the state government built 170sq ft. tin sheds for 8250 families in three weeks. Learning from Latur, we innovated several designs to suit the local environment after major disasters in different states.

Since 1999 we have built a few thousand temporary shelters. The building materials used included tin sheets, roofing tiles, water-proof reinforced burlap and tin sheets with insulation.

We also built schools in Odisha and Kachh.