In the wake of the housing nightmare that followed Hurricane Katrina in 2005, several companies have developed several new and innovative shelters that can be easily and quickly deployed following a disaster.

The Intershelter Dome

The Intershelter Dome is a temporary housing structure that resembles a modern-type of igloo. The domes, which are available in a 14-foot model for $7,500 and a 20-foot model for $12,500, can provide shelter to between two and six people. The domes are made out of an aerospace composite material and can withstand hurricane force winds, as well as earthquakes. Arctic and desert models are also available.

According to Intershelter President and CEO Capt. Don Kubley, the domes can be put together by three people in about two hours. Intershelter Domes have been deployed in 15 countries thus far, Kubley said. In the U.S., they have been deployed in California, Oregon, Washington, Michigan, New York, and Louisiana. As with some of the aforementioned shelters, the Intershelter Dome not only serves as disaster relief housing, but can also be used for a wide variety of other applications including migrant workers, military housing, hunting camps, the homeless communities, and quarantine shelters.

Although they have only had mass production capabilities for a little over year, Kubley said the company is currently in talks with the Department of Defense about providing its shelters to the military. The company is also working with FEMA to develop a first responder camp, in which the company would provide shelters for 300 first responders, as well as medical facilities in the first 24 hours following a disaster event.

“Mark my words, a year from now, when you turn on the television to Fox News or CNN you’ll see (our domes) after every major disaster and theaters of war,” Kubley said.

To get more information about the Intershelter Dome, visit intershelter.com/index.cfm.