 After Janet passed Barbados , the island was declared a state of emergency . Relief workers on Barbados helped to clean up debris scattered by the strong winds on highways , and the local government made requests for food and construction materials . The extensive damaged caused by Janet on the island to low @-@ income households led the passage of the 1955 Housing Act , which created the National Housing Authority ( NHA ) in 1956 . The NHA was responsible for the acquisition of lands on which houses could be built with stronger and more permanent materials , which was thought to minimize maintenance costs and hurricane @-@ related damage . The newly founded organization quickly worked to rebuild homes after the hurricane struck . 
