This semester, six School of Public and Population Health students took the Disaster Preparedness course taught by SPPH Professor Uwe Reischl. They spent the semester learning about the function of public health in disaster preparedness planning.
Throughout the course, students planned for their final project — a three-dimensional, small-scale cardboard model. These models, if built to scale for a family of four, should serve as a shelter during a natural disaster. The students designed the structures to withstand certain disasters in mind, such as: hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, wildfires and more.
Students take into account all the things that could go wrong during a natural disaster. And, with a public health lens, the students built their models to mitigate issues regarding space, water, electricity and more.Â
Learn more about each of their experiences in the class:
Andrea Sotelo, Health Studies Student
Q: What was your biggest takeaway from this class?
A: My biggest takeaway from this class is that disaster preparedness is carefully planning and understanding the unique needs of people during emergencies. I learned that well prepared communities and households can greatly reduce the impact of natural disasters and help families stay safe.
Q: What insight did you gain about the role of a shelter in allowing a family to survive a flood, earthquake, hurricane or a fire?
A: I gained a better understanding of how critical and essential it is to have a well designed shelter for survival. A shelter does not only provide safety and security but it also supports the mental well-being that allows people to stay calm in a long-term survival environment.
Q: How was building a 3-D model helpful in visualizing the needs of a family who must spend an extended period of time isolated?
A: Building the 3-D model helped see the practical needs of a family during a disaster. When designing the space, I was focused on prioritizing “needs versus wants” emphasizing accessibility, functionality, and safety. I wanted to create a space where a family can live efficiently and safely while isolated during a disaster.
Julia Rhuman, Master of Public Health Student
Q: What did you enjoy most about working on this building model project?
A: I really enjoyed constructing the layout to my design and seeing it come to life. I created a cylinder skylight with an adjustable top when there is a natural disaster approaching and it really gave me an appreciation for architects.
Q: What insight did you gain about the role of a shelter in allowing a family to survive a flood, earthquake, hurricane or a fire?
A: It’s important when constructing a home to withstand a flood, earthquake, hurricane, and fire that you establish a strong foundation, have fire resistant materials and make sure your home is above ground to ensure the safety of yourself and family. There are many strategic ways you can build a home so it’s designed to last and outlast a natural disaster.
Q: How was building a 3-D model helpful in visualizing the needs of a family who must spend an extended period of time alone (isolated)?
A: It was very eye opening to see how important it is to have a blueprint of your home design and to practice playing where your furniture, kitchen appliances and bathroom appliances will fit in such a small and constricted area. You also need to keep in mind where you will be placing your windows, doors, storage units, and your entrance and exit to your home so it’s accessible during an evacuation.
Dani Schaffer, Health Studies Student
Q: What was your biggest takeaway from this class?
A: My biggest takeaway from this class is the importance of well planned and well built shelters when disasters are going on.
Q: What insight did you gain about the role of a shelter in allowing a family to survive a flood, earthquake, hurricane or a fire?
A: An insight that I gained about the role of a shelter in allowing families to survive a flood, earthquake, hurricane or fire, is that most of the injuries and deaths from a disaster like this happen after the actual disaster, and a shelter can greatly reduce the risk.
Q: How was building a 3-D model helpful in visualizing the needs of a family who must spend an extended period of time alone (isolated)?
A: Building a 3-D model really helped me visualize how things like x bracing, stilts, or certain roof shapes can help protect the structure and family from earthquakes, flooding or hurricanes.
Addison Retherford, Health Studies Student
Q: What was your biggest takeaway from this class?
A: My biggest takeaway was how much thoughtful planning goes into creating a structure that can actually withstand different natural disasters. It’s not just about building something strong—it’s about understanding the specific forces of floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, and fires, and designing a shelter that anticipates those threats.
Q: What did you enjoy most about working on this building model project?
A: I enjoyed hands-on problem-solving the most. It was satisfying to take ideas we learned in class and actually apply them to a physical model. Seeing the structure come together piece by piece made the project feel real.
Q: How was building a 3-D model helpful in visualizing the needs of a family who must spend an extended period of time alone (isolated)?
A: Building a 3-D model made it easier to imagine what a family would actually experience inside the shelter. Seeing the layout, space limits, and essential features in physical form helped highlight what was truly necessary. It showed how every part of the design has to be practical, efficient, and focused on long-term safety and comfort.
Brenna Woolery, MPH Student
Q: What was your biggest takeaway from this class?
A: My biggest takeaway from this class was the absolute, unexpected complexity that goes into disaster preparedness home planning. I realized there is a vast amount to consider, from structural resilience to family comfortability, that I simply never would have even contemplated before. It truly opened my eyes to the detailed, multidimensional requirement for creating a genuinely secure and comfortable home.
Q: What did you enjoy most about working on this building model project?
A: What resonated most with me was the combination of hands-on application and creative freedom this project provided! The small class size was also instrumental! It encouraged an environment for collaboration and I could genuinely be inspired by the ingenuity of my peers!
Q: How was building a 3-D model helpful in visualizing the needs of a family who must spend an extended period of time alone (isolated)?
A: Building the 3-D model was absolutely crucial to completely understand the space and scale I was working with. From my experience, I knew private spaces were essential for a family trapped in isolation. The model forced me to quantify how quickly crucial “non-negotiables” like privacy and personal space would be depleted, and then brainstorm multi-purpose areas that could act as an essential function like emergency supply storage or an area to escape.