Housing is the biggest issue. Initially the Government gave tents and plastic sheets but emergency houses were needed before winter. Although they will subsidise rebuilding people could be in emergency housing for two years. Skretting decided to improve the basic house design: a good idea as the original design was criticised after the first rain. A supplier was found but sourcing building materials was a challenge.
Region VIII was selected as Skretting buys marine raw materials there. The Regional authorities suggested Arauco, a small town needing around 2,000 emergency houses. The union in Skretting Chile was contacted and asked for building volunteers. Many employees wanted to go even though everyone expected bad conditions. Eighteen volunteers from Osorno and Puerto Montt were chosen and left for Arauco followed by trucks with the materials.
Shift manager Claudio Riveros led the group. ”Seeing the earthquake impact is totally different from photographs or TV. You cannot imagine the suffering. Some houses looked good outside but inside were critical. Many must be demolished. People were sleeping in tents; trying to make a normal life in their houses in the day.”
The Skretting team stayed for almost a week, sleeping in the city gymnasium. They worked from 7:30 to around 19:00, with great optimism despite difficult problems.
