Mid Atlantic cedar shingles or "galvalume"
South...clay tiles ( if the local building codes permit ) or galvalume or plywood......plywood is VERY strong. Galvalume lasts twenty years but is NOISY when it rains.
Here in the tropics: Poured concrete or ply painted with Vulkem or Tuff Koat......or galvalume.
Lots of choices, and as usual the answer is "It depends". Concrete lasts forever and has great thermal capacity. Asphalt shingles are cheap and last 10 years or so. Palm leaves are very environmentally sustainable, and available in many remote areas. Depends on where you are and what kind of house, doesn't it?
Tsunami proof
