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Hi Carolyn,

I'd take the time to check again how different constructions fared in the atrocious weather. As you say, the houses had stood for many years but the weather was freak.

Talk to local people who saw how buildings of interest failed. Did anyone take vdieos with their phones?

High winds and driving rain mean it's really important to have strong and effective load paths and well maintained roofs and wall renderings which, would not be the case as the weather was so unusual.

This problem is not so much about finding what would survive and convincing people to change how they build it's more about convincing people to agree amongst themselves what needs to be done.

From a technology perspective I'd see what survived and talk to different groups: men, women, skilled workers, contractors.

From a changing minds and encouraging people to find what they are willing and able to do I would use the PASSA approach developed by the IFRC.

All the best with this challenge.

Steve