My deepest sympathies for the people suffering from this disaster. For several years I have been studying a specific technology for low cost, energy efficient housing which can provide unusually good protection from hurricanes and earthquakes, as well as being less heavy than concrete and stone in case of disaster.
The technology in question is call Straw Bale Home Construction. There is a lot of material on the internet about this. Just Google, straw bale construction, straw bale homes, international straw bale homes registry, and similar. In June of 2006 I visited a one bedroom strawbale home near Pensacola Florida which had survived Hurricane Ivan without any damage while one foot plus trees had blown down within 100 years. I hear there is good earthquake news from California regarding strawbale homes there. One can use wheat straw, barley straw, rye straw, and of special interest in China, rice straw.
I would love to be able to set up a meeting with appropriate officials in the Chinese Embassy in Washington, DC, to show them the exhibits and photos I have developed, for possible introduction on a large scale in China. There is the potential to provide low cost housing, earthquake resistant housing, and also save on the polution resulting from burning large quantities of waste straw.
Man, didn't you ever read Three Little Pigs?
The Bad Old Wolf's gonna be eating some bacon.
Fascinating about the straw bale homes. Thanks gleeaikin for the info.