Tarp
February 12, 2010
It turn out that one convoy of trucks loaded with materials from the recently docked barge made it out before the customs officials stepped in. Among other things, several bundles of lumber and 125 rolls of tarp found their way to the compound. This relatively small amount of materials energized the team working here. I put together a device to facilitate cutting. Here’s a photo of the setup and one of the Billy Graham chaplains here doing some cutting:
Each roll holds 100 ft. of the 20 ft. wide material and yields five 20′ x 20′ pieces, which are distributed for use as temporary shelter. After each piece is cut, it is folded and stacked. Here’s a photo of the folding and stacking process:
The 125 rolls yielded 625 tarps, which will be distributed by members of the 82nd Airborne tomorrow. Here’s the truck loaded and ready to roll:
I learned today that, to date, Samaritan’s Purse has shipped 10,000 rolls of tarp to Haiti. Each roll costs $220, so the cost of this small portion of the relief effort here has cost over $2,000,000. An order already is in for 6,000 additional rolls.
The other portion of the load that made it to the compound was lumber. My charge for tomorrow is to mock up a potential temporary shelter that would essentially make use of the 20′ x 20′ piece of tarp and several pieces of lumber to construct a stable roof that could be mounted on poles. The ultimate goal is to mass produce “kits” that include the tarp, the lumber cut to size, and a simple set of instructions. There is enough lumber on the barge to produce 1,000 of these.
I spent the morning working on longer-term living quarters for people who will come to work in Haiti for several months. I mentioned in an earlier post that we had five high tech tents of the sort the military uses in Iraq. These are 20′ x 32′ in size, and when powered by generator, have lights, electrical outlets, and air conditioning. I don’t have a photo of one fully assembled, but here’s a photo of one going up:
The decision was made to subdivide the tents by installing movable partitions. Because there is a door at each end, this would allow two couples or families to live in each tent and have privacy. I built the first partition and installed it today. I will cut the remainder of the pieces before I leave, and leave them for the next carpenter to assemble and install.
Returning to tarp, I spent the afternoon working at the clinic in City Soleil. The door I installed earlier in the week is being used as an entrance and exit for the pharmacy, shown here:
Patients have to stand and wait outside the door and, beginning about 11am, the sun beats down hard in this area. I installed a 10′ x 10′ awning covered with tarp. Benches will be put under the tarp, giving waiting patients a place to sit in the shade.
One more good night’s sleep and I should be fully recovered from the all nighter. I have only two more days to work and hope to be at full strength to the end of my stay. I appreciate your prayer and words of encouragement.
