Brazil

First deployment: flood and landslide response

DS3-Global’s first deployment in 2010 was a stockpile of 10,000 CommUnity Shelters for Brazil. The shelters were designed for flood and landslide response, with features that supported both immediate shelter and community continuity. Key features included:

• a 250mm waterproof raised base;
• modular connection between shelters;
• suitability for extended family use;
• flexible layouts for community and shared purposes;
• practical deployment in flood and landslide affected areas.

A critical value of the CommUnity Shelter model was that affected families could remain close to ancestral land and community networks. In some contexts, tenancy and land connection depend heavily on continued occupation. Shelter response therefore needs to consider not only immediate protection, but also the social and legal importance of place. The Brazil deployment remains an important early example of DS3’s long-standing approach: shelter that supports dignity, continuity and community connection after disaster. From our first deployment in Brazil, DS3 has focused on shelter that protects people without disconnecting them from land, family or community.