Earlier this month we completed nine months of exposure testing for three kind of shelters on a hilltop in western Virginia.  The test period ran from mid-Dec 07 to mid-August 08 and included fairly mild winter snows, fairly strong spring thunderstorms with estimated 60 mph winds, and summer heat/heavy rains.  The testing was

This is a link to an NGO that focuses on sanitation in India.  http://www.sulabhinternational.org/ 

Not necessarily rapid response for a disaster but certainly development related.  I've also attached a powerpoint slide show that I pulled off their website.

From a recent article in the Economist

For the next few months, here in DC, a group called Builders Without Borders is constructing a straw bale home at the US Botanical Gardens right next to the Capitol Building.  This structure is probably too complicated to be used for disaster relief situations, but they also will be building an earth bag shelter.  In addition, members of the group will be coming to NDU to present their ideas to us, and talk about the possibilities of including earth bags as a shelter solution. 

In reports on the aftermath of the disaster in Myanmar, many of the photos and videos show shadows on the ground, i.e. the sun is still shining.  (I may be the only person on the planet who is looking for shadows in these images).  

If only they knew how, the people of Myanmar (and many other countries) could be cooking and boiling water with the sun whenever it is shining, and saving their meager (and soaked) wood supplies for nights and cloudy days.