ABOUT US
Tsunami REACH
Reconstruction Efforts Aiding Communities without Homes
is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization, seeking IRS Tax-Exemption, designed to specifically help the victims of the December 26, 2004 Tsunami Natural Disaster, in rebuilding permanent homes and communities in Sri Lanka.
It has been over 16 months since the disaster has occured and still there is so much to do as 300,000 children, women and men are still homeless. The obvious methods currently used in Sri Lanka by the NGO's are not only too slow laborous and cost-effective but simply not capable of solving the problem any time soon.
Tsunami REACH’s primary mission is to share advanced, environmentally-friendly building technology, manufacturing techniques, training services and general support to any agency or group involved in Tsunami reconstruction efforts. This is NOT a for profit venture.
Project Program:
Tsunami REACH has been chartered to operate in Sri Lanka until February 2010 using advanced building technology (The Stucc On Steel Building System). This will include creating a manufacturing facility in country, which includes importing manufacturing equipment, setting up infrastructure, training key staff members and workers, and offering assistance in other manufacturing and construction related areas.
CBO’s and NGO’s involved in tsunami reconstruction will be permitted into the program and have access to purchase building components, receive training and service all at cost and free from any mark-up or profit. This program will operate under an open-book policy under US law and regulations.
Tsunami REACH’s Program will create thousands of job opportunities for Sri-Lanka and will improve the lives of over 125,000 people by providing good jobs and high-quality housing, at a very low cost. Since the program is not designed to raise profits, it is the only housing program free of corporate gain.
The Technology:
The Stucc On Steel (SOS) Building System website uses three common building raw materials found around the world; 1.) Light Gauge Galvanized Steel (LGGS), 2.) Portland Cement and 3.) Sand. The structure is made entirely out of LGGS and then covered on the outside and inside with a High-Strength Structural Stucco. No wood or asbestos is used, which makes that structure 100% recyclable.
Since these items are not readily available we intend to import them into the country in bulk and under an Import Duty Waiver, which is permitted by the Sri Lanka Government. The specialty manufacturing equipment will be housed on or near the project site, so that the building components can be made in-country (locally) by the people of Sri-Lanka. The SOS Building System includes all the necessary manufacturing and construction training necessary to take these raw materials and convert them into finished houses in just a few days at or below current costs.
The Stucc On Steel Building System is highly resistant to:
• Tsunami & Earthquake
• Termites
• Fire
• Mold & Mildew
• Uses NO Wood or Asbestos in the structure & is
• 100% Environmentally Friendly
Project Partner: Habitat For Humanity ~ SRI-LANKA
Tony Senewiratne, Executive Director of HFH~SL has approved a project, which will demonstrate the building technology to their organization. These will be the first two homes built entirely using Light Gauge Steel Galvanized Framing & High-Strength Structural Stucco Finishes. HFH~SL has approved two building lots, for two families who lost their homes in the Tsunami, in the Galle District, approximately two hours south of the capital of Colombo.
The project has been completed. See Photos.
Why is it taking so long to rebuild Sri Lanka? What happened to the money?
There are several major issues why rebuilding the homes destroyed in the Tsunami will continue at a snails pace. There are three things that you need to build a house:
1.) Money: Most of the money generously donated has already been used for the immediate relief, aid and recovery. More than 180,000 children, refugees of the 2004 Tsunami, as of April 2006 are waiting to be returned to permanent homes. Money will be the solution.
2.) Building Materials: The Sri Lanka Construction Chamber of Commerce (CCI) has reported that “the yearly building average, over the past 20 years, has ranged between 4,000 to 5,000 units.” The current building mechanism is based on centuries-old technology, it is slow, out-dated and not even close to today’s building code standard that is designed to save life and protect property. This technology uses the following materials:
• Cement: This is the grey powder-like material that when wetted and mixed with stone and sand creates concrete to form foundations, slab and building blocks. Current cement production on the island is limited and expensive due to the process under which it is manufactured. The current supplier is only geared to produce part of the yearly average, the rest has to be imported.
• Wood: Lumber is only used to create the roof structure and interior finished for the houses since termites are a major problem. Since, farming is the second largest industry on the island, the majority of the forests have been cleared, which have also caused detrimental impacts on the environment and wildlife.
• Sand: There are several types of sand but the only one that can be used in construction must come from the ground not from the beach. Sea or ocean sand contains chlorides that react with the cement which causes the materials, when mixed (concrete), to fail. Prior to the Tsunami CCI reported a serious shortage of building sand. Sri Lanka mines or excavates the sand from the fresh water rivers found on the island. The impacts of this type of mining has also had negative impacts on the island environment and wildlife. There is simply not enough sand to meet current demand.
• Asbestos: Yes, it is true. Sri Lanka still uses this material to create roof sheathing. Asbestos started to be banned in the US in the mid 70’s when it was discovered that the fibers caused cancer. Why do they continue to use this product knowing the harmful consequences? When you have few options there is not much else you can do.
Prior to the Tsunami it was reported that there was already a large, housing deficit for the island populated by more than 22 million people (more than Austrailia). How in the world can the current mechanism handle the construction of any more homes when there is simply not enough building materials?
3.) Skilled Labor: Supply of skilled labor is equal to demand of labor required to build. Those who possessed the knowledge of construction, prior December 26th, provided the manpower to create 4,000 to 5,000 homes each year. The primary modes of industry is fishing and farming. Also, it was reported that after the first Gulf War in the Middle East many Sri Lankan workers left their country for higher paying jobs, which depleted the pool even more. Who will provide the training?
In conclusion, if you only have the money how in the world can you build a home without the building materials and the labor? If the expectation is to rebuild all the homes within (10) years that would create an additional demand of 8,000 homes per year on top of the current demand. Anyone who understands construction in third-world countries knows that Sri Lanka CANNOT handle building 13,000 units per year. There is simply not enough to go around…materials, skilled labor, etc.
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This is not adequate housing!
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