NAHB Identifies Post-Disaster Housing Challenges and Solutions During Industry Roundtable
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) Humanitarian Supply Chain Lab 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 News, 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, “Disaster Housing Construction Challenges in America: Exploring the Role of Factory-Built Housing.”
Latest from NAHBNow
Economics
Apr 27, 2026
Population Growth and Housing Supply Dynamics at the County LevelU.S. population growth slowed notably in the latest population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, with the nation expanding by just 0.5% in 2025, roughly half the pace of the prior year.
Economics
Apr 27, 2026
Housing’s ‘Silver Tsunami’ Is Coming, But It Won’t Hit Every MarketThe so-called “silver tsunami” describes the wave of millions of homes expected to hit the market as older Americans increasingly decide to sell their properties. However, industry experts are noting that this “tsunami” isn’t landing where it’s needed most.
Latest Economic News
Economics
Apr 23, 2026
The Silver Tsunami Isn’t Landing Where It’s Needed MostThe “silver tsunami” refers to the wave of housing inventory expected as older homeowners downsize or transition out of their homes. According to the latest American Community Survey, there are an estimated 61.2 million people in the U.S. aged 65 years or older, representing about 18% of the population.
Economics
Apr 22, 2026
State-Level Employment Situation: February 2026February’s labor market data point to a notable pullback in employment, with job losses concentrated across a majority of states and only modest gains elsewhere. While January showed solid momentum, February’s decline reflects emerging softness in hiring conditions, alongside uneven performance across the country.
Economics
Apr 21, 2026
Population Growth and Housing Supply Dynamics at the County Level in 2025U.S. population growth slowed notably in the latest Vintage 2025 population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, with the nation expanding by just 0.5% in 2025, roughly half the pace of the prior year. The deceleration was primarily driven by a sharp decline in net international migration (NIM), which dropped from 2.7 million to 1.3 million, while natural change remained relatively stable.