Real Climate recently published a piece on how rising temperatures are expected to increase the strength of tropical storms.
http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2018/05/does-global-warming-make-tropical-cyclones-stronger/NPR did extended coverage today on how much Puerto Rico was damaged by Hurricane Maria, how many more likely died than the 'official' number we've been given, and how much is left to do in order to return things to how they were.
It's left me thinking about what we might do to protect poorer people who live in the paths of the storms which may become more violent.
In Thailand a lot of construction is basically 'post and beam' where the structural members are created by building forms around rebar and pouring the posts and beams in place.
This is some pretty low tech stuff. I've seen folks building this way with nothing much more than a wheelbarrow and hoe to mix the cement and some buckets to carry it up to the top of the form and pour it in. Tree limbs and bamboo holding up the beams.
I've got some experience with ferrocement construction. Very strong and pretty low tech. Ferrocement boat hulls are typically between 3/8 to 1-1/8 inch thick and extremely durable. They are about the only boats that can get stuck on a reef for a few days and come off without major damage.
So. What if people were given assistance to build a single small post and beam room with ferrocement fillin. Just large enough for themselves and their hardest to replace possessions. Perhaps the size of a small bedroom.
When a storm approached people could pack in their possessions and themselves and ride out the storm. After the storm they would be alive and not have to start from scratch.
Over time some might be able to expand their storm-hardy building while others may only be able to expand their living space with the sort of bamboo and scrap wood they now use.
Any other ideas of how to build inexpensive storm hardy spaces? Something light on material expense and could be constructed with minimal skills and tools.