8 BUILD BACK SAFER KEY MESSAGES V1.

1 BUILD ON STRONG
Yolanda showed us that the way we build houses 8 BE
FOUNDATIONS PREPARED
needs to be stronger. These are 8 key messages on
how to repair your house and build back safer.

EVACUATION

HOW DOES A TYPHOON AFFECT YOUR HOUSE?

COMMUNICATION
The wind pulls the The wind pulls the
roof up roof up
GRAB BAG

2 TIE-DOWN FROM Trapped wind 7 A SIMPLE SHAPE WILL

BOTTOM UP pushes up against KEEP YOU SAFE
the building
The wind sucks the
building over

The wind pushes

the building over

3 BRACE AGAINST 4 USE STRONG 5 A GOOD HOUSE NEEDS 6 SITE YOUR HOUSE
THE STORM JOINTS A GOOD ROOF SAFELY

30°
BUILD BACK SAFER KEY MESSAGE 1 of 8 V1.1

Stops the building Stops the building

A F
Build on strong foundations
flooding sinking into the ground

Foundations are very important as they anchor your

house to the ground. Ensuring foundations are
1/4
post
suitable to your building’s location and ground
height conditions protect your house from strong winds,
earthquakes and flooding.

Protects the building from Keeps the timber away from Stops the building from Weights the building down so
B pests - like termites C water so it does not rot D being pushed over E it can’t be sucked up

or use
chemical
treatments

WHAT CAN I USE AS A FOUNDATION FOR MY HOUSE?

Above ground Below ground Anchors increase Treated hardwood post Hardwood post set Rebar set into Steel strap bolted to
timber post timber post foundation below ground protects into concrete concrete foundation post with gap to avoid
strength from rotting foundation rotting

Too Weak Strong Stronger Strongest

BUILD BACK SAFER KEY MESSAGE 2 of 8 V1.1

Tie-down all the way Tie the roof battens

E
Tie-down from bottom up
to the ground down to the roof
frame
E
D In a typhoon your house can be sucked apart or
blown away by the wind. Tie every part of your
building right through to the ground. Start thinking
C about this from the bottom up.

Tie the posts down to Tie the floor joists Tie the roof beams Tie the roof frame
A the foundation B down to the frame C down to the posts C
D down to the posts

WHAT CAN I USE TO TIE-DOWN MY HOUSE? STRONG WINDS COMING?

Rope or nylon Thick galvanized wire Timber cleats Galvanized metal Tie-down when
fishing wire (multiple layers) strap strong winds come

Strong Strongest
BUILD BACK SAFER KEY MESSAGE 3 of 8 V1.1

Brace each wall Brace around doors

A G
Brace against the storm and windows - strong
point to strong point!

Strong bracing stops your house being pushed over or

pulled apart by the wind. Bracing needs to be strong
against being crushed along its length or pulled apart.
Brace between the strong points of your house.

Brace between roof When on stilts, brace Full bracing both ways Brace at 45°. No less
B Brace below the roof
C trusses or rafters D between the posts E from strong point to F than 30° and more
strong point! than 60°

45° is
60°
best

30°

WHAT CAN I USE TO BRACE MY HOUSE?

Tie thick galvanized Tie old rebar Nail timber Nail galvanized Nail timber and
steel wire steel straps galvanized steel straps

Strong Stronger Strongest

BUILD BACK SAFER KEY MESSAGE 4 of 8 V1.1

Extend timber past Use gusset plates to

A F
joints to stop nails
splitting the timber Use strong joints strengthen joints

Your house is only as strong as the weakest joint. Build

every joint so it can’t be pushed or pulled apart.
Horizontal nails are better as they can’t be pulled apart
by the wind sucking your house up or pulling it down.

Don’t cut away too much of Offset nails to prevent timber Nailing at an angle will make Fishplate/strap vertical and
B the main posts or beams C splitting D the joint harder to pull apart E horizontal joints to increase strength

1/3
1/3
1/3

1/3
1/3 1/3 1/3 1/3
1/3

WHAT CAN I USE TO STRENGTHEN JOINTS?

Single nail Nails Screw Interlock joint Fishplate or cleats Bolt

and nail

Too Weak Strong Stronger Strongest

BUILD BACK SAFER KEY MESSAGE 5 of 8 V1.1

Keep eaves short to Overlap roof sheets to

A stop the roof being E strengthen joints
sucked away and long
enough to protect the A good house needs a good roof
walls from rain

The way you design and build your roof is critical to

protect you against strong winds and rain. Build your
Overlap
roof the right shape and pitch, and well nail down to
45cm/
protect against a storm.
1.5 ft max

Use more nails at all the roof edges Use rubber washer or
B The best roof pitch is 30°
C D silicone on roofing
nails
15° 50°
30° Too
Too Strong
flat steep
3
2
2 ft

30° 2
1 ft
2
1 2 3 4 5 ft
5 across 3 up 1
ft CGI thickness 0.4mm

WHAT CAN I USE TO SECURE MY ROOF? WHAT ROOF SHAPE SHOULD I USE?

Regular Umbrella German wire Twisted Roofing Single slope roof Two sided gable roof Multiple roof slopes reduce
nail head nail (good for umbrella head screw and the risks of your roof being
and washer bamboo) nail and washer pulled apart
washer

Too Weak Strong Strongest Too Weak Strong Strongest

BUILD BACK SAFER KEY MESSAGE 6 of 8 V1.1

Raise your house Use wind breaks to

A E
Site you house safely
above the floods protect your house
from strong winds

Identify the hazards in your location and build

as well as you can to resist them.

Don’t build too close to edges or where rocks Build away from large trees or remove trees near the house to reduce
B might fall D risk of damage

Reduce risks and build away from hazards where possible

C
BUILD BACK SAFER KEY MESSAGE 7 of 8 V1.1

Overhangs weaken the Lean to roofs separate

A D
A simple shape will keep you safe
strength of your house to main roof

The shape of your house is important to reduce

damage in strong winds. Always keep the design
simple and strong.

Simple, compact shapes are the safest Don’t extend too long
B C

Length no more than

three times the width

HOW SHOULD WE PLAN A GROUP OF BUILDINGS?

Houses too close together trap the wind Spacing houses to let the wind pass
BUILD BACK SAFER KEY MESSAGE 8 of 8 V1.1

A WHAT ARE THE

HAZARDS IN MY Be prepared C WHEN A DISASTER IS
COMING WHAT CAN I
LOCATION? DO TO MY HOUSE?

Typhoon? Tie-down house

Preparedness is critical because it is the main way to
Floods? Protect windows and
reduce the impacts of a disaster. It is important to openings
Tidal surge?
start taking actions and prepare now. Elevate valuable items
Tsunami? during floods
Earthquake? Secure loose items so they
won’t be blown away
Landslide?
Turn off or unplug all
Volcano? appliances

B OVER TIME WHAT CAN I DO TO PREPARE MY HOUSE?

Add bracing

Add shutters to windows and openings

Create wind breaks

Prepare strong ‘safe room’

Remove large trees close to house

HOW CAN I PREPARE MYSELF AND COMMUNITY FOR A DISASTER?

EVACUATION COMMUNICATION GRAB BAG

Make a plan and practice it
Decide early if you will evacuate or
stay in place
Prepare safe evacuation route
Know where the evacuation sites
are
Know what transport you can use
Know the disaster warnings signals Prepare a waterproof ‘grab bag’ prior
to a disaster
Know how you can receive information
about a disaster Make the ‘grab bag’ easy to carry and
include:
Inform your relatives and friends where
you will evacuate to medical kit
extra clothing and safe shoes
Know how you will communicate with batteries
relatives and friends after disaster torch and matches
basic food
Know how and who it inform of your cooking equipment
situation after a disaster basic tools
important personal records/ID
Know where to find information on
missing persons Don’t forget some water