NAHB Identifies Post-Disaster Housing Challenges and Solutions During Industry Roundtable
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) has been working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to investigate ways to speed up the provision of immediate, temporary and permanent shelter after disasters. To do so, it has been reaching out to involved parties to help inform their understanding of the issues and challenges in order to shape their recommendations.
NAHB has been assisting MIT and FEMA in recent years to identify the challenges of meeting housing needs after a disaster has struck and what steps are needed to proactively address them. Additional partners include code experts, industry groups, and federal and state stakeholders.
On Jan. 29-30, 2024, MIT hosted a roundtable, Scaling Disaster Housing Capacity, as a follow-up to a virtual discussion that was held in May. Seven NAHB members and three staff participated in the meeting to identify opportunities for increasing capacity to rapidly deploy housing solutions after disasters, as well as policy and operational constraints that limit the implementation of those solutions.
NAHB participants included:
- Geep Moore, Moore-Built Construction & Restoration, Elm Grove, LA
- Tim Shigley, Shigley Construction Company Inc, Wichita, KS
- Kenneth Estes, Estes Building & Remodeling, LLC, Saltillo, MS
- Robert Criner, Criner Remodeling, Newport 国产亚洲福利影院, VA
- Matt Belcher, Verda Solutions, St. Louis, MO
- Ken Semler, Impresa Modular, Martinsburg, WV
- Harris Woodward, Finish Werks, Laurel, MD
These members specifically discussed remodeling/repair challenges with codes, FEMA’s 50% Rule, and financing and insurance issues, among others, while exploring increased the use of modular and panelized construction. Other participants included FEMA, Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Habitat for Humanity, International Code Council (ICC), and several state codes and emergency management personnel.
An MIT report regarding this discussion is expected by spring 2024. NAHB previously worked with MIT on its systems-built housing report, “.”
Latest from NAHBNow
Economics
Dec 15, 2025
Builder Sentiment Inches Higher but Ends the Year in Negative TerritoryBuilder confidence in the market for newly built single-family homes rose one point to 39 in December, according to the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) released today. Sentiment levels were below the breakeven point of 50 every month in 2025 and ranged in the high 30s in the final quarter of the year.
Advocacy
Dec 12, 2025
Judge Determines FEMA鈥檚 Termination of BRIC Program UnlawfulA federal judge ruled that the Federal Emergency Management Agency鈥檚 termination of the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program was unlawful and issued a permanent injunction restoring the program. This action is of note to the housing community because NAHB has been pushing Congress to pass the Promoting Resilient Buildings Act, which would allow jurisdictions to qualify for BRIC funds if they have adopted one of the latest two code cycles.
Latest Economic 国产亚洲福利影院
Economics
Dec 15, 2025
Builder confidence inched higher to end the year but still remains well into negative territory as builders continue to grapple with rising construction costs, tariff and economic uncertainty, and many potential buyers remaining on the sidelines due to affordability concerns.
Economics
Dec 11, 2025
The latest homeownership rate rose to 65.3% in the third quarter of 2025, according to the Census’s Housing Vacancy Survey (HVS).
Economics
Dec 10, 2025
The central bank’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) cut rates a third and final time in 2025, reducing the target range for the federal funds rate by 25 basis points to a 3.5% to 3.75% range. This reduction will help reduce financing costs of builder and developer loans.