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This book takes the topic of aviation crisis and emergency management and walks the reader through what aviation organisations must consider alongside legislation to respond fully to an aviation emergency or accident. It offers both theory and practical tips and ideas along with templates and checklists to help build confidence in how to run an aviation emergency operation. This includes timelines for activation, setting up and managing humanitarian centres and how a full aviation crisis operation runs at the site of the accident.Fundamentals of Aviation Crisis and Emergency Management is the only textbook available with all required elements laid out chronologically. The reader can plan for, train for, and exercise for a multitude of crisis examples, building both confidence and competence in managing an aviation emergency. Fundamentals of Aviation Crisis and Emergency Management includes a range of case studies and a variety of interviews with those people who have experienced an aviation crisis and deployed to it. This allows the reader to fully immerse themselves in the topic and makes the book both a textbook of key knowledge and also a book that can be read for increasing understanding of the topic. It will be essential for aviation students and professionals, disaster response organisations, and emergency planners.

The urgency of effective disaster and risk management has reached unprecedented heights. The looming threat of resource constraints, coupled with the intricate challenges of coordinating responses in the wake of crises, underscores the critical need for comprehensive solutions. The book, Challenges, Strategies, and Resiliency in Disaster and Risk Management, ventures into the heart of this urgent matter. This groundbreaking work examines the multifaceted issues that confront disaster and risk management professionals, from the complex intricacies of climate change to the demanding task of coordinating responses amid resource limitations. With a meticulous analysis of major hurdles, such as resource constraints, population growth, and technological vulnerabilities, Challenges, Strategies, and Resiliency in Disaster and Risk Management equips its readers with practical solutions. Covering key phases of disaster management, including mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery, it acts as a comprehensive resource for informed decision-making. By offering effective strategies and showcasing case studies, the book aims to enhance disaster preparedness, response, and recovery efforts, ultimately contributing to the development of resilient communities and organizations. Designed for a diverse audience, Challenges, Strategies, and Resiliency in Disaster and Risk Management caters to emergency managers, first responders, and disaster response organizations seeking to elevate their understanding of the challenges in disaster management. Scholars, researchers, and students specializing in disaster management, risk assessment, and related fields will find invaluable insights and case studies within these pages. Additionally, government agencies responsible for shaping disaster and emergency management policies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) focused on disaster relief, and professionals engaged in risk assessment and management will benefit from the practical knowledge shared in this comprehensive guide. Challenges, Strategies, and Resiliency in Disaster and Risk Management is poised to be an indispensable resource for anyone involved in the critical arena of disaster and risk management.

Recent global crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic have further emphasised the need for improved disaster management within the tourism industry, and with this in mind, the Handbook on Crisis and Disaster Management in Tourism fully addresses the importance of crisis and disaster readiness. This erudite Handbook brings together contributions from both leading tourism practitioners and scholars of a variety of disciplinary backgrounds, ranging from economics to hospitality, to showcase collaborative approaches to destination and business recovery.Taking a global approach to crisis and disaster management research, this comprehensive Handbook uses a wide variety of international case studies from both the Global North and South. Pressing issues, such as climate change and the need for improved communication between the tourism industry and government bodies, are examined through multiple critical lenses from the theoretical to practical. Significantly, chapters explore recent events to illustrate the importance of the global transition to net zero and efficient disaster management and recovery, such as Australian bushfires and growing challenges to Pacific Island tourism. Providing in-depth analyses of disaster management strategies, this Handbook will be an essential resource for students and researchers focusing on tourism management and climate change mitigation. It will additionally be beneficial for tourism industry practitioners seeking to understand practical applications of crisis and disaster management methods.

Shaping National Security: International Emergency Mechanisms and Disaster Risk Reduction presents international emergency mechanisms relative to disaster risk reduction (DRR). The goal is to share knowledge about existing frameworks, and utilize established DRR policies and programs, as another means to reinforce and strengthen national security in countries around the world.The book outlines, in detail, the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC), the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG), the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) DRR programs. While these entities'versions of DRR best practices are largely directed at decreasing the impact of disaster hazards, limiting relevant exposure, local vulnerabilities, increasing capacities to cope with disaster, the authors present these frameworks as potential tools, and effective means, to support national security efforts.This is especially important in disaster circumstances when local, and national emergency resources, may be insufficient to face hazards and multi-hazards, and result in cascading effects to occur as hazard events transpire. Chapters present various resources available to them, through these programs, to encourage authorities from every country to effectively apply the mechanisms—and emergency mechanisms specifically—to offer domestic solutions. Due to these programs proven track records in providing organisational standards, the use of such mechanisms can serve as both the basis to foster sound DRR practices and, by extension, can supplement resiliency, security, and continuity within countries. This concept is based on the premise that the UNDAC, INSARAG, NATO and ECPM emergency mechanisms have been developed to be implementable (directly or indirectly) in every country in the world when disasters occur.Shaping National Security takes a'big-picture,'holistic view of DRR and national security to offer innovative ideas and solutions to professionals and officials working in disaster management, disaster risk reduction, emergency management, crisis management, civil protection, public security management, national security, criminal justice, international studies, and homeland security.

The Path of Flames: Understanding and Responding to Fatal Wildfires is an edited volume covering the complexities of response and recovery issues relative to catastrophic wildfires.As wildfires become more frequent throughout the world—and the loss of life greater, especially among residents trapped in the path of the flames—it is essential that agencies in fire-prone areas understand the complexity of the response as it relates to finding and identifying the remains of those who perished. While covering wildfire dynamics, risks for vulnerable populations, and the emergency response to wildfires, this book focuses largely on the recovery of human remains within the context of the overall response to mass disasters resulting from wildfires. As such, search protocols, staffing needs, pre-event coordination and organization, and logistical support are addressed. The scientific basis for understanding how fire will affect human remains—as well as how the level of destruction can be interpreted—is also addressed.Recognizing the multidisciplinary nature of the field, this volume covers forensic issues relating to the recovery of remains, forensic anthropology, DNA analysis, forensic odontology, and forensic pathology. The book also includes contributions from international wildfire response professionals looking at global best practices in wildfire response and human remains recovery. Specifically, several chapters cover the lessons learned from the devasting Camp Fire of 2018 in California that led to the deaths of 85 people. The Camp Fire burned nearly 19,000 structures and was ultimately the most destructive—and deadly—in California's history.The Path of Flames is a one-of-a-kind reference that serves as a valuable resource for professionals working in the areas of emergency services, search and rescue, law enforcement, fire service, disaster planning and response, victim recovery and identification, and mass disaster and mass fatality response.

Health Disparities, Disasters, and Crises: Approaches for a Culture of Preparedness presents a roadmap to help guide the actions needed to address health disparities introduced as part of the pre-planning, planning, and mitigation phases of natural and technological disasters.With contributions from 30 scholars in disaster management in public health, this text explores how the intersectionality of health disparities of different socioeconomic and racial/ethnic groups and how social determinants help shape exposure, and vulnerability to pandemic disasters and crises. Supported by examples from across the world, chapters are supplemented with case studies of best practices, graphs, and tables. Each of the seven parts address different topics, including how disasters affect the poor, medically underserved, and racial/ethnic groups, the impact of health disparities, and the growing link between global health, disaster planning/mitigation, and global security.Written for the benefit of undergraduate and graduate students, working professionals, and academics in the US and abroad, Health Disparities, Disasters, and Crises: Approaches for a Culture of Preparedness provides the best overall understanding of professional disaster management and safety for all citizens. It is also an ideal text for graduate and undergraduate courses in public health, public policy, medicine and nursing, healthcare administration, emergency management, emergency preparedness, homeland security, epidemiology, sociology, and medical sociology.

'The objective of this Book Edit is to highlight the pandemic as a promise in terms of behaviors, challenges and opportunities which assist in the smooth operationalization as well as prove useful in promotion, growth, and development of the society and organizations. In this regard, this Book Edit invites novel research work of the scholars and researchers around the globe with focus on the pandemic as a promise and its role in society and organizations. Thus, the selected topic is very important in business, industry, management, academic, and economic value of the practitioners and academic institutions of all levels and those having their country-wide and international offices. This Book Edit will contribute through novel approaches and will provide implications for the managers and leaders of corporate sectors, MNCs and SMEs, academicians, academic institutions, social scientists, students, policy makers, government and non-government agencies and other related stakeholders to learn adapting and finding new solutions to the problems occurring from nature and circumstances'--

Disaster can strike at any time and most people are not prepared for it. Disaster preparedness is essential, but most find it unexciting. However, anyone who has watched a zombie movie has a plan in mind for how they would survive it, and those imaginary plans translate well to real-world disaster scenarios. Using the backdrop of some of the most well-known zombie properties (Night of the Living Dead, 28 Days Later, and The Walking Dead), this book is a guide for preparing for a disaster or service interruption lasting from just a few days to several weeks or more. Food, water, shelter, personal safety--all the topics are discussed, including what do to when you are forced to leave your shelter, and where to go. Readers will learn to comfortably and confidently face fires, floods, tornadoes, strong storms, roving zombies, or even rampaging kaiju.

In rapidly developing emergencies, it is vital for aid agencies to understand how to establish an agile supply chain that resists the chaos of a crisis and can cater to unknown needs. Now in its fourth edition, Humanitarian Logistics presents chapters from a wide range of academics and practitioners and offers cutting edge research into how complex problems such as distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine and provision of relief to victims of natural disasters can be solved. New chapters cover topics such as cash-based humanitarian logistics (HL) systems, sustainability in a HL context and providing logistics services for humanitarian relief.In recent years, a number of global crises have highlighted the critical role that logistics plays in humanitarian response. There is a vital need to understand how to conduct operations in confused and swiftly changing environments. This book is essential reading for anyone who needs to understand how to effectively manage supply networks during a rapidly developing emergency.

The fourth edition of An Introduction to Emergency Exercise Design and Evaluation is designed to help practitioners and students of emergency management understand various aspects of the exercise design process. It provides a unique perspective since it is the first edition published since the COVID-19 pandemic. It arrives in 2023 looking back almost four years on the issues and challenges emergency managers faced on the threshold of a new decade in 2020. Since then, the country has faced the COVID pandemic along with at least twenty-four weather related disasters that killed and injured hundreds.Emergency exercises are an important component of an organization's emergency planning and preparedness, yet few emergency managers and practitioners have training in designing or evaluating them. In this updated and practical handbook, the author explains the essential elements and core principles of exercise design and evaluation. This fourth edition of An Introduction to Emergency Exercise Design and Evaluation focuses on natural disasters and technological emergencies that occur in communities of any size. It provides emergency planners, public health professionals, emergency managers, police officers, and fire fighters with an in-depth look at exercise design issues and an accessible guide to designing and evaluating emergency exercises. This edition includes a new material on what to expect in emergency management through 2030.

Climate change is having an immediate and sometimes life-threatening impact, especially for older adults – generally speaking, people 65 or older. Older adults often face mobility, cognitive, and resource challenges, which contribute to a disproportionate number of deaths in the face of major disasters. But some challenges are less visible. Consider the grandparent who no longer can stand and wait at the bus stop because of the heat, or the retiree who lives in a home with black mold due to chronic flooding that she can't afford to remediate or leave because of her limited fixed income. Our population is aging—by 2034, the US will have more people over 65 than under 18. Despite the evidence that climate change is severely impacting older adults, and the reality that communities will be confronted with more frequent and more severe disasters, we're not prepared to address the needs of older adults and other vulnerable populations in the face of a changing climate. In Climate Resilience for an Aging Nation, community resilience and housing expert Danielle Arigoni argues that we cannot achieve true resilience until communities adopt interventions that work to meet the needs of their oldest residents. She explains that when we plan for those most impacted by climate, and for those with the greatest obstacles to opportunity and well-being, we improve conditions for all. Arigoni explores how to integrate age-friendly resilience into community planning and disaster preparedness efforts through new planning approaches—including an age-friendly process, and a planning framework dedicated to inclusive disaster recovery—to create communities that serve the needs of older adults better, not only during disasters but for all the days in between. Examples are woven throughout the book, including case studies of age-friendly resilience in action from New York State; Portland, Oregon and Multnomah County; and New Orleans. Climate Resilience for an Aging Nation will help professionals and concerned citizens understand how to best plan for both the aging of our population and the climate changes underway so that we can create safer, more livable communities for all.

The Distributed Functions of Emergency Management and Homeland Security outlines the roles and responsibilities of various individuals and agencies involved in homeland security and all aspects of emergency management. Each chapter focuses on the practical and applied aspects of a range of public servants in various departments and the organizations that they represent. Rather than presenting a theoretical exploration alone, the book examines the practical knowledge and hands-on skills related to various functions and how their decisions and actions play into the larger framework of safety and security —in the public, private and nonprofit sectors. Every professional has a unique and integral part to play in fulfilling their roles and obligations, whether it be in relation to prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response or recovery operations. Personnel that frequently come to mind in such scenarios include emergency managers, geographers and land-use planners, EMTs and paramedics, fire fighters, police officers, public health officials, nurses, public administrators, and public information officers. And while these individuals are integral to homeland security and emergency management, there are other professionals that also perform essential duties that—while they aren't first-to-mind—are vital to efforts relating to terrorism and disasters; this includes pilots in the aviation sector, the military, attorneys, psychologists, and forensic professionals serving in pathology, DNA, and dentistry roles. Chapters provide a holistic rendering of the homeland security and emergency management landscape to present all these various professional capabilities and contributions. This includes how current functions are coordinated as well as how future efforts might change relative to a more proactive, all-hazards and holistic approach. As such, the book will be a useful resource for students and practitioners to understand the dynamic professions—and various disciplines and fields—that impact disaster and terrorism preparedness and response capabilities.

Since the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic health care, public health, first responders, and other essential workers have been engaged in the most extensive emergency response in more than a century, whilst trust in science has been eroded and public health has been politicized. Against this context, the authors in this collection assess the potential mental health impacts, widening disparities, and needed interventions for future resilience of the public health workforce. What actions can be taken now to ensure more resilient systems post-pandemic? Focusing on the impacts of the pandemic on responder health across health care, public health, emergency management, and more, the chapters, written by experts in the field, provide an overview of the mental health impacts of disasters and emergencies on responders more broadly, and also highlight the inequitable impacts of the response among sectors of the workforce and populations who are socially or physically vulnerable. Closing with recommendations for changes that are needed to address gaps in capacity, COVID-19, Frontline Responders and Mental Health makes a crucial contribution to building the evidence base and disseminating best practices to ensure recommendations become standard practices in the future. Realizing the harsh potential realities such as a shortage of qualified workers and questions around funding and workforce development needed to ensure preparedness for the next public health emergency, this playbook for delivering resilient public health systems post-pandemic provides a timely oversight for future resilience.

Evaluating the myriad dimensions of how disasters can affect economic activity and decision-making, this cutting-edge Handbook presents a timely analysis of the conditions that reduce or exacerbate disaster impacts.Addressing developments in research on disaster economics, internationally recognized scholars explore the role of both the private and public sectors in managing and mitigating disasters. Chapters discuss important theoretical considerations in the evaluation of the impacts of disasters on economic activity, including the behavioral consequences, biases and heuristics, and risk preferences. Delving deeper into disaster economics, the Handbook then presents empirical methods and applications used in modelling disaster impact evaluation, with research focusing on impacts on economic growth, government fiscal and social conditions, well-being, and migration. Informed by the latest research on the economics of pandemics, the Handbook concludes by presenting novel approaches to evaluating and improving risk management, resilience, recovery and adaptability in the face of disasters.A valuable resource for conducting research, this Handbook will prove vital to students and scholars of developmental and environmental economics. Providing a broad range of guidance from disaster response experts, it will also prove useful to practitioners and policymakers concerned with the economics of disasters.

The frequency and intensity of natural disasters—such as wildfires, hurricanes, floods, and storms—is on the rise, threatening our way of life and our livelihoods. Managing this growing risk will be central to economic and social progress in the coming decades. Insurance, an often confusing and unpopular tool, will be critical to successfully emerging from the effects of these crises. Its traditional role is to protect us from unforeseen and unanticipated risk, but as currently structured, insurance cannot adequately respond to these types of threats. How can we improve insurance to provide consistent and sufficient help following all disasters? How do we use insurance not just to help us recover, but also to help us prevent disasters in the first place? And how can insurance help us achieve broader social and environmental goals? Understanding Disaster Insurance provides an accessible introduction to the complexities—and exciting possibilities—of risk transfer markets in the U.S. and around the world. Carolyn Kousky, a leading researcher on disaster risk and insurance, explains how traditional insurance markets came to be structured and why they fall short in meeting the needs of a world coping with climate change. She then offers realistic, yet hopeful, examples of new approaches. With examples ranging from individual entrepreneurs to multi-country collaborations, she shows how innovative thinking and creative applications of insurance-based mechanisms can improve recovery outcomes for people and their communities. She also explores the role of insurance in supporting policy goals beyond disaster recovery, such as nature-positive approaches for larger environmental impact. The book holds up the possibility that new risk transfer markets, brought to scale, could help create more equitable and sustainable economies. Insurance and risk transfer markets can be a powerful tool for adapting to climate change, yet they are frequently misunderstood. Many find insurance confusing or even problematic and ineffective. Understanding Disaster Insurance is a useful guidebook for policymakers, innovators, students, and other decision makers working to secure a resilient future—and anyone affected by wind, fire, rain, or flood.

A definitive resource, the Introduction to Emergency Management and Disaster Science presents the essentials to better understand and manage disasters. The third edition of this popular text has been revised and updated to provide a substantively enriched and evidence-based guide for students and emerging professionals. The new emphasis on disaster science places it at the forefront of a rapidly evolving field. This third edition offers important updates, including: Newly commissioned insights from former students and professional colleagues involved with emergency management practice and disaster science; international policies, programs, and practices; and socially vulnerable populations. Significantly enriched content and coverage of new disasters and recent research, particularly the worldwide implications of climate change and pandemics. Pedagogical features like chapter objectives, key terms and definitions, discussion points and resources. The only textbook authored by three winners of the Blanchard Award for excellence in emergency management instruction. The Introduction to Emergency Management and Disaster Science is a must-have textbook for graduate and undergraduate students and is also an excellent source of information for researchers and professionals.

Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) includes methods and tools for modeling and solving complex problems. MCDM has become popular in the production and service sectors to improve the quality of service, reduce costs, and make people more prosperous. This book illustrates applications through case studies focused on disaster management.With a presentation of both Multi-Attribute Decision-Making (MADM) and Multi-Objective Decision-Making (MODM) models, this is the first book to merge these methods and tools with disaster management. This book raises awareness for society and decision-makers on how to measure readiness and what necessary preventive measures need to be taken. It offers models and case studies that can be easily adapted to solve complex problems and find solutions in other fields.Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis: Case Studies in Disaster Management will offer new insights to researchers working in the areas of industrial engineering, systems engineering, healthcare systems, operations research, mathematics, business, computer science, and disaster management, and, hopefully, the book will also stimulate further work in MCDM.

This timely book unpacks the idea of ‘disaster'from a variety of approaches, broadening understanding and improving the usability of this complex and often contested concept. Including multidisciplinary perspectives from leading and emerging scholars, it offers reflections on how the concept of disaster has been shaped by and within various fields of research, providing complementary and thought-provoking comparisons across many domains.Functioning as an important point of reference between and across disciplines, chapters explore the forces and building blocks of disaster and how these are interpreted, providing opportunities for dialogue between multiple points of view. The book concludes with a broader, integrated discussion of the aspects of disaster research covered, putting forward suggestions for further cooperation between disciplines and a future research agenda.Defining Disaster will be a fascinating read for disaster researchers in disciplines including law, sociology, and social and public policy who wish to improve their understanding of how their work maps onto the wider field. It will also be beneficial for policy makers and practitioners in this area looking for a rounded view of contemporary cross-disciplinary research on the subject.

Anarchists have been central in helping communities ravaged by disasters, stepping in when governments wash their hands of the victims. Looking at Hurricane Sandy, Covid-19, and the social movements that mobilised relief in their wake, Disaster Anarchy is an inspiring and alarming book about collective solidarity in an increasingly dangerous world.As climate change and neoliberalism converge, mutual aid networks, grassroots direct action, occupations and brigades have sprung up in response to this crisis with considerable success. Occupy Sandy was widely acknowledged to have organised relief more effectively than federal agencies or NGOs, and following Covid-19 the term'mutual aid'entered common parlance.However, anarchist-inspired relief has not gone unnoticed by government agencies. Their responses include surveillance, co-option, extending at times to violent repression involving police brutality. Arguing that disaster anarchy is one of the most important political phenomena to emerge in the twenty-first century, Rhiannon Firth shows through her research on and within these movements that anarchist theory and practice is needed to protect ourselves from the disasters of our unequal and destructive economic system.

Emergency operations centers (EOCs) are a key component of coordination efforts during incident planning as well as reaction to natural and human-made events. Managers and their staff coordinate incoming information from the field, and the public, to support pre-planned events and field operations as they occur. This book looks at the function and role of EOCs and their organizations.The highly anticipated second edition of Principles of Emergency Management and Emergency Operations Centers (EOC) provides an updated understanding of the coordination, operation of EOCs at local, regional, state, and federal operations. Contributions from leading experts provide contemporary knowledge and best practice learned through lived experience. The chapters collectively act as a vital training guide, at both a theoretical and practical level, providing detailed guidance on handling each phase and type of emergency. Readers will emerge with a blueprint of how to create effective training and exercise programs, and thereby develop the skills required for successful emergency management.Along with thoroughly updated and expanded chapters from the first edition, this second edition contains new chapters on: The past and future of emergency management, detailing the evolution of emergency management at the federal level, and potential future paths. Communicating with the public and media, including establishing relations with, and navigating, the media, and the benefits this can provide if successfully managed. In-crisis communications. Leadership and decision-making during disaster events. Facilitating and managing interagency collaboration, including analysis of joint communications, and effective resource management and deployment when working with multiple agencies. Developing and deploying key skills of management, communication, mental resilience. Planning for terrorism and responding to complex coordinated terrorist attacks. Developing exercises and after-action reports (AARs) for emergency management.

This book is designed to educate vulnerable communities, emergency practitioners, and disaster researchers to increase the social and physical capacity of communities to mitigate and adapt to disaster impacts. With climate change escalating the intensity and range of disasters, we have entered an unprecedented time. The tools in this book allow researchers, practitioners, and community leaders to adopt new training techniques that are more engaging and effective, using a bottom-up framework to integrate knowledge, attitude, preparedness, and skills (K.A.P.S).This book is uniquely designed to support instructors, researchers, practitioners, and community leaders in their effort to promote preparedness across marginalized communities. The book contains a full range of templates, worksheets, survey questions, background information, and guidance for carrying out training; the material has been field-validated to meet research standards.The K.A.P.S. Framework outlined throughout the book is designed to serve as an adaptable model that national and international audiences can utilize to better prepare their communities for disasters due to hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes. As climate change continues to ravage communities, the K.A.P.S. training program will prove to be an important tool for community trainers and academics across a range of hazards and disasters.

An urgent, transformative guide to dealing with disasters from one of today's foremost thinkers in crisis management.The future may still be unpredictable, but nowadays, disasters are not. We live in a time of constant, consistent catastrophe, where things more often go wrong than they go right. So why do we still fumble when disaster hits? Why are we always one step behind?In The Devil Never Sleeps, Juliette Kayyem lays the groundwork for a new approach to dealing with disasters. Presenting the basic themes of crisis management, Kayyem amends the principles we rely on far too easily. Instead, she offers us a new framework to anticipate the “devil's” inevitable return, highlighting the leadership deficiencies we need to overcome and the forward thinking we need to harness. It's no longer about preventing a disaster from occurring, but learning how to use the tools at our disposal to minimize the consequences when it does.Filled with personal anecdotes and real-life examples from natural disasters like the California wildfires to man-made ones like the Boeing 737 MAX crisis, The Devil Never Sleeps is a guide for governments, businesses, and individuals alike on how to alter our thinking so that we can develop effective strategies in the face of perpetual catastrophe.

The text offers a comprehensive and unique perspective on disaster risk associated with natural hazards. It covers a wide range of topics, reflecting the most recent debates but also older and pioneering discussions in the academic field of disaster studies as well as in the policy and practical areas of disaster risk reduction (DRR). This book will be of particular interest to undergraduate students studying geography and environmental studies/science. It will also be of relevance to students/professionals from a wide range of social and physical science disciplines, including public health and public policy, sociology, anthropology, political science and geology.

2020 was a year unlike any other in U.S. history. Emergency managers were confronted with a rapidly evolving deadly virus coupled with widespread economic devastation. On top of increasingly destructive hurricanes and other extreme weather as well as ongoing drought and wildfires, there was societal upheaval. All of these crises created a witch's brew of challenges for public safety and emergency management in the middle of 2020 that continues today. For emergency managers in 2020, better strategies were needed to overcome these major crises and disasters that triggered instability and upended normal life. Mega-disasters and cascading catastrophes now must be imagined and managed for effectively.The Future of Emergency Management After 2020: The New, Novel, and Nasty looks at this new normal and at the issues that alter the scope, complexity, and priorities of emergency management. It references the last ten years, where the tragedy of 9/11 redefined priorities in the field. Drawing on the authors'extensive experience while canvassing the opinions of other emergency management professionals, this thought-provoking book offers new strategies for the crises we're now seeing—and the novel crises we might see in the future.Faculty, students, and practitioners of emergency management will find this book extremely pertinent and valuable.

A must-have for facing the coronavirus threat, Robert A. Clark's new book reveals what you should do to mitigate the risk, and limit the damage, while designing contingency measures to address a pandemic crisis. The book builds on the themes introduced in his 2016 best-selling title Business Continuity and the Pandemic Threat – Potentially the biggest survival challenge facing organisations, by focusing specifically on the COVID-19 pandemic. Business Continuity and the Pandemic Threat – Learning from COVID-19 while preparing for the next pandemic 2020 showed organisations that the threat of a pandemic needs to be taken seriously, emphasising the importance of preparing a business continuity plan and a pandemic plan in response to the crisis. Clark's book focuses on how an organisation can create a new or update an existing pandemic response plan. He highlights the similarities in managing different types of crisis whether is it a pandemic, or other threats such as cyber attacks, floods, fires, civil disturbances, terrorism etc. The book looks at several case studies, reviewing how different industries have been impacted by the pandemic, with the author also reflecting on his own personal experience during 2020. It also discusses the ways the virus has affected our economy and daily routines, and the psychological impact. Discover: How your organisation can create and validate a pandemic response plan; How to manage your organisation when faced with a pandemic threat; How lockdown has impacted our mental health, economies and working culture; and How organisations from varied industries have adapted in response to the pandemic. The book also provides useful free resources that offer further guidance/information. Understand the corporate, psychological and societal impact of a pandemic threat and how to prepare for and mitigate its effects with this book – pre-order your copy today!

Managing the Human Dimension of Disasters provides the most comprehensive and up-to-date analysis on how individuals cope with tragedy and loss.Kjell Brataas gives a voice to those who have suffered and have been affected by unimaginable trauma. Noted experts recount stories and share their knowledge of how they assisted victims following tragedies such as the Manchester Arena bombing, the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, terror attacks, several aircraft disasters and school shootings, the 9/11 attacks and the COVID-19 pandemic. The book focuses on those affected by a disaster, including the bereaved, survivors and first responders. Leaders of support groups formed after these tragedies, trauma therapists and psychologists from three continents offer their experiences dealing with victims and the aftermath of disaster. Chapters provide guidance on memorializing tragedies, site visits, donation management, media relations, social media, grief counseling and human resilience. Readers will be shown that psychological support is critical after a disaster and learn from those who deal with emergencies.Brataas'unmatched volume offers new understandings, recommendations, best practices and benchmarks on how best to assist victims in the aftermath of disaster. A valuable resource for students, researchers and practitioners.

Written by a hazardous materials consultant with over 40 years of experience in emergency services, the five-volume Hazmatology: The Science of Hazardous Materials suggests a new approach dealing with the most common aspects of hazardous materials, containers, and the affected environment. It focuses on innovations in decontamination, monitoring instruments, and personal protective equipment in a scientific way, utilizing common sense, and takes a risk-benefit approach to hazardous material response. This set provides the reader with a hazardous materials'Tool Box'and a guide for learning which tools to use under what circumstances.Emergency responders are bound to a Standard of Care for response to hazardous materials incidents, based on federal law, regulations, and consensus standards. Volume Two, Standard of Care and Hazmat Planning, presents the hazardous materials legal issues and background on the Hazmat Standard of Care, including incidents where Care was violated and the repercussions felt. FEATURES Uses a scientific approach utilizing analysis of previous incidents Suggests guidance in developing plans for hazmat response Provides an exploration of laws, regulations, and standards Outlines the elements of Standard of Care response Includes case studies and in-depth history of Standard of Care response

Written by a hazardous materials consultant with over 40 years of experience in emergency services, the five-volume Hazmatology: The Science of Hazardous Materials, suggests a new approach dealing with the most common aspects of hazardous materials, containers, and the affected environment. It focuses on innovations in decontamination, monitoring instruments, personal protective equipment in a scientific way utilizing common sense, and takes a risk-benefit approach to hazardous material response. This set provides the reader with a hazardous materials'Tool Box'and a guide for learning which tools to use under what circumstances.Options for stabilization can very widely depending on the scope and size of the incident and the hazards involved. Volume Four, Common Sense Emergency Response, covers this process and includes science and risk analysis and the part it plays in a successful outcome of the stabilization portion of the response. FEATURES Offers a risk-benefit approach based upon science and history Provides an exploration of current research Outlines a systematic approach based on science and risk management Includes hazmat case studies Focuses on common sense utilization of hazmat tool box

Disasters and diseases have shaped history from Mount Vesuvius burying Pompeii until today's societies struggling through the Covid-19 pandemic. They result in critical economic and human losses, and sometimes in changed political power balances. Diseases and disasters are so important for the world and its global population, that they are researched by various academic disciplines, and they appear in all great holy scriptures. This dissertation aims to contribute to our understanding of performance of temporary response organizations by determining respective performance predictors. Contributing to handling two of the world's greatest scourges may result in massively reducing the occurring economic costs – and even in human lives saved. The overall research question is: How can the performance of temporary organizations responding to disasters and disease outbreaks be predicted? Reto Wegmann's dissertation is structured in six chapters. It starts with introductory remarks in Chapter 1, and explains theoretical backgrounds as well as terms and definitions in Chapter 2. Chapter 3 inducts organizational performance predictors, which are then used to generate hypotheses, which are empirically tested against different data sets, in Chapter 4 and Chapter 5. Chapter 6 concludes the dissertation by summarizing the insights gained, proposing theoretical and practical conclusions, pointing out the limitations and strengths and weaknesses, and by outlining multiple paths for future research.

Written by a hazardous materials consultant with over 40 years of experience in emergency services, the five-volume Hazmatology: The Science of Hazardous Materials suggests a new approach dealing with the most common aspects of hazardous materials, containers, and the affected environment. It focuses on innovations in decontamination, monitoring instruments, and personal protective equipment in a scientific way, utilizing common sense, and takes a risk-benefit approach to hazardous material response. This set provides the reader with a hazardous materials'Tool Box'and a guide for learning which tools to use under what circumstances.Volume Five, Hazmat Team Spotlight, covers hazardous materials teams across the United States. Levels of response vary between urban and rural areas, as do resources. This volume covers the history, vehicles, types of response, equipment, and resources, as well as procedures and innovations across different teams nationwide. FEATURES Presents geographical and historical background of departments and hazmat teams Includes department organization and resources Provides an exploration of selected, specific department case studies nationwide Outlines basic operation procedures Highlights resources, training, and hazmat exposures, both transportation and fixed

Find the answers to disaster and emergency management research questions with Disaster and Emergency Management Methods. Written to engage students and to provide a flexible foundation for instructors and practitioners, this interdisciplinary textbook provides a holistic understanding of disaster and emergency management research methods used in the field.The disaster and emergency management contexts have a host of challenges that affect the research process that subsequently shape methodological approaches, data quality, analysis and inferences. In this book, readers are presented with the considerations that must be made before engaging in the research process, in addition to a variety of qualitative and quantitative methodological approaches that are currently being used in the discipline. Current, relevant, and fascinating real-world applications provide a window into how each approach is being applied in the field.Disaster and Emergency Management Methods serves as an effective way to empower readers to approach their own study of disaster and emergency management research methods with confidence.

Best-selling author Cass R. Sunstein examines how to avoid worst-case scenariosThe world is increasingly confronted with new challenges related to climate change, globalization, disease, and technology. Governments are faced with having to decide how much risk is worth taking, how much destruction and death can be tolerated, and how much money should be invested in the hopes of avoiding catastrophe. Lacking full information, should decision-makers focus on avoiding the most catastrophic outcomes? When should extreme measures be taken to prevent as much destruction as possible?Averting Catastrophe explores how governments ought to make decisions in times of imminent disaster. Cass R. Sunstein argues that using the “maximin rule,” which calls for choosing the approach that eliminates the worst of the worst-case scenarios, may be necessary when public officials lack important information, and when the worst-case scenario is too disastrous to contemplate. He underscores this argument by emphasizing the reality of “Knightian uncertainty,” found in circumstances in which it is not possible to assign probabilities to various outcomes. Sunstein brings foundational issues in decision theory in close contact with real problems in regulation, law, and daily life, and considers other potential future risks. At once an approachable introduction to decision-theory and a provocative argument for how governments ought to handle risk, Averting Catastrophe offers a definitive path forward in a world rife with uncertainty.

Disaster Mental Health Community Planning is a step-by-step guide to developing mental health disaster plans, assisting communities to act on long-term resilience and recovery. As disasters continue to increase in severity and number, with 16% of survivors identified as potential PTSD victims if they don't promptly receive care, this book is a critical read. Chapters outline how to prepare, develop, and implement a trauma-informed collaborative process that prioritizes lasting emotional wellbeing along with survivors'short-term needs. The manual demonstrates how to form this partnership through effective communication, assess those individuals at greatest risk of distress, and deliver trauma-specific treatment. Readers will appreciate the book's practical, user-friendly approach, including case studies, checklists, and follow-up questions to better define goals. Cutting-edge treatment interventions are included along with basic information on trauma's impact on the brain and the types and effects of human-caused and natural disasters to help readers make sound planning decisions.Accessible to mental-health providers, community leaders, organizations, and individuals alike, Disaster Mental Health Community Planning is a Road Map for anyone interested in delivering a trauma-informed mental health supplement to their community's medical disaster preparedness and response plan.

Disasters are complex and dynamic events that test emergency and crisis professionals and leaders – even the most ethical ones. Within all phases of emergency management, disasters highlight social vulnerabilities that require culturally competent practices. The lack of culturally respectable responses to diverse populations underscores the critical need for cultural competency education and training in higher education and practice. Using a case study approach that is both adaptable and practical, this textbook is an accessible and essential guide on what makes teaching effective in emergency and crisis management.Key Features An in-depth understanding of cultural competence makes it well suited for teaching effectively in emergency preparedness Expert guidance from leading authorities ensures a fresh perspective in various aspects of emergency and crisis management National and international emergency and crisis management case studies containing ground rules, a scenario, roles/actors, guiding questions, facilitator questions, and resources Pedagogy and andragogy theories that drive design and implementation Pre- and post-tests for each case study allow faculty and trainers to empirically measure the participants'learning outcomes Short case study structure can be easily implemented in a course as a group discussion, group assignment, or individual assignment With unparalleled resources to reach every participant and facilitator, Cultural Competency for Emergency and Crisis Management offers educators a roadmap for successfully engaging participants in various aspects of cultural competency knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Katastrophen irritieren die Selbstverständlichkeit des Alltags. Als St. Lorenzen in der Steiermark am 21. Juli 2012 von einem Murenabgang verschüttet wird, beginnt nicht nur eine Phase der praktischen, sondern auch der kognitiven Bewältigung: Um die Katastrophe zu verstehen, müssen die Betroffenen auf bestehende Deutungsmuster zurückgreifen. Sandra Maria Pfister erschließt diese Deutungsmuster der Katastrophe anhand einer qualitativen Studie des Murenabgangs und analysiert ihre Einbettung in der institutionellen Ordnung des Katastrophenschutzes. Damit geht sie über eine inhaltliche Rekonstruktion jener Muster weit hinaus und lenkt den Blick auf die konflikthaften Macht- und Spannungsverhältnisse.

We live in a world which experiences dramatic loss of life due to natural disasters and hazards.This comprehensive book by Rajni Sibal, formerly the additional secretary (disaster management), Government of India, outlines methods for preparing households, businesses, and commercial establishments to address the substantial risk of disasters at home, the workplace and communities at large.Rajni Sibal addresses considerations important in planning for disaster management, from cyclones, chemical spills, floods and landslides to catastrophic events. The book not only includes the procedures used by safety experts but also focuses on areas often overlooked during the reactive and post disaster periods.Packed with information, important contact details and numbers, this book contains a extensive list of the how-to's for avoiding mistakes which turn natural and man-made catastrophes into larger disasters, and makes preparing for disaster less intimidating.

Despite the volumes of information they contain, few libraries know how to prepare for, endure, and survive any type of disaster. This completely updated second edition of Emergency Preparedness for Libraries provides library management with a comprehensive guide to planning and executing emergency procedures.Emergency Preparedness for Libraries provides library personnel with detailed instructions for protecting staff, patrons, and the facilities themselves, including:Steps to take now, before disaster strikesPeople and procedures to include in an emergency/disaster action planPractical ways to turn written plans into an instinctual team responseSafety considerations to take into account when caring for people on-site during an emergencyInformation to provide to the umbrella organization and the media after a disasterKey things to do the first few days after an eventTips for getting back to business

Optimizing Community Infrastructure: Resilience in the Face of Shocks and Stresses examines the resilience measures being deployed within individual disciplines and sectors and how multi-stakeholder efforts can catalyze action to address global challenges in preparedness and disaster and hazard mitigation. The book provides a theoretical framework to advance thinking on creating resilient, inclusive, sustainable and safe communities. Users will find an accurate and up-to-date guide for working on the development, implementation, monitoring and assessment of policies, programs and projects related to community resilience. Provides updated information on resilience, especially on infrastructure, finance, land use, standards and policies Includes case studies that illustrate how communities have increased their resilience to natural and other disasters Analyzes the institutional, political, social and economic dimensions of resilience at the community level Illustrates the interdependencies and interconnectedness of infrastructure systems and how community resilience relies on a holistic approach Examines responses to emerging risks associated with climate change

《Warnings！：AI、基因編輯、瘟疫、駭客、暖化……全球災難警告，用科學方法洞悉真相》是一本探討未來的國家安全、科技的威脅、美國經濟，甚至文明命運的書。 在希臘神話中，卡珊德拉預見災難，但受到眾神詛咒而遭到忽視。現代的卡珊德拉反而明確地預測了卡翠娜颶風、福島核電廠、大衰退、伊斯蘭國崛起等許多災難。但和神話中的卡珊德拉一樣，他們遭到忽視。時至今日，還有人會提出警告，一些災難即將發生。但我們如何辨明哪些警告可能是正確的？ 《Warnings！》一書兩位作者都是卓越的企業執行長和曾任職白宮國家安全會議的老將──透過對各個領域的深入研究，發現一套區別正確的卡珊德拉和瘋狂末日理論家的方法。他們去調查目前已提出警告未來會發生災難、但呼聲未受到注意的專家，包括來自人工智慧、生物駭客、病毒突變的各種威脅。對任何不想盲目地成為明日災難犧牲者的個人、企業和政府，克拉克和艾迪精闢的見解都不可或缺。

In a world of earthquakes, tsunamis, and terrorist attacks, emergency response plans are crucial to solving problems, overcoming challenges, and restoring and improving communities that have been affected by these catastrophic events. Although the necessity for quick and efficient aid is understood, researchers and professionals continue to strive for the best practices and methodologies to properly handle such significant events. Emergency and Disaster Management: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Applications is an innovative reference source for the latest research on the theoretical and practical components of initiating crisis management and emergency response. Highlighting a range of topics such as preparedness and assessment, aid and relief, and the integration of smart technologies, this multi-volume book is designed for emergency professionals, policy makers, practitioners, academicians, and researchers interested in all aspects of disaster, crisis, and emergency studies.

'Building Back Better'(BBB) has been a popular slogan in disaster recovery efforts around the world, including the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, the 2009 Samoan Tsunami, the 2010 Haiti Earthquake and the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. BBB has recently been identified as one of four priorities of action for disaster risk reduction globally in the next 15 years by the United Nations Sendai Framework. However, there has consistently been a mismatch and confusion in the interpretation of the phrase and what BBB encapsulates which has made proper implementation difficult and unsuccessful at times. This book explains the concept of'Building Back Better'as an innovative holistic approach to rebuilding a community following a disaster event in order to develop resilience. It begins by exploring the background, development and definitions of BBB. The theory behind establishing BBB as a holistic concept is explained and the internationally recognised BBB Framework developed by the authors is introduced and described. Each of the components of the Framework are explained in detail with findings from international research and case studies from the US, Haiti, Indonesia, Samoa, Sri Lanka, Vanuatu, Gaza, China, Australia, UK and New Zealand, providing practical recommendations for implementation in recovery projects. There is a focus on the translation of BBB theory into practice to assist implementers to use the BBB Framework and BBB Indicators introduced in this book as an effective tool to plan and implement disaster recovery projects. This publication can be used as a handbook by government, non-governmental and private industry practitioners to prepare for and implement post disaster recovery projects that benefit and strengthen local communities and as a core text on international Disaster and Energy Management courses.

Is international law equipped to tackle the challenges posed by the dramatic increase in disasters? In Disaster Management and International Space Law Diego Zannoni attempts to answer this crucial question through an analysis of the main legal issues involved, addressing both prevention and relief, with a special focus on major space applications such as remote sensing and telecommunications, and the attendant specific legal regimes. It is argued that, when lives of human beings are in danger, territorial sovereignty becomes, to a certain extent, porous and bends in front of the value of human life and the urgent need to rescue. On the other hand, specific obligations were identified to cooperate in the prevention and management of disasters, particularly in terms of data sharing.

Disasters experienced by the hospitality industry have steadily increased over the past few decades, and the industry has emerged as one of the most vulnerable businesses to disasters and emergencies, with a wave of catastrophic events striking it in recent years. Disaster management has become a vital tool as key industry players seek ways to cope with these unexpected events. Disaster Planning and Preparedness in the Hotel Industry reveals that a majority of hotels are not financially capable to prepare and train personnel, and unable to afford financing activities or disaster and emergency preparedness plans and programs. Furthermore, it finds that although emergencies bring about trauma and hardship in hotels, they are at the same time establishing a re-engineered life cycle. The book goes on to suggest that for hotels to be well managed and adequately prepared for emergency, all stakeholders should be engaged in removing setbacks and barriers to effective disaster and emergency management and planning. It concludes that Jordanian hotel managers and stakeholders should establish a well detailed emergency planning and preparedness schedule and outline details of the collaborative management plan for emergency cases. By identifying major emergencies that have occurred in the hotel industry; investigating hotels'preparation for emergencies in the past; and exploring how hotels manage and overcome such emergencies; this book will increase the awareness of emergency managers and scholars on how to read, manage, and overcome the impact of emergencies in the hospitality industry.

Knowing that no survival book can cover every conceivable aspect of surviving in every conceivable situation, in Total Survival, veteran survivalist James C. Jones delivers tips that cover the most likely needs of readers and for which there is useful and practical instruction. His goal is to share a variety of practical survival skills, principles, and ideas in an easy-to read format that will aid the reader in becoming stronger, safer, and more self-reliant. The ten principles of survival that Jones sets out are derived from analysis of true survival accounts. Studies of why some people survived fires, plane crashes, assaults, and other deadly situations while others in the same situations perished confirm that these principles made the difference. Although the data and concepts in Total Survival are derived from accounts of acute disasters—such as tornadoes, floods, earthquakes, and epidemics—they apply equally well to chronic disasters, such as economic decline, shortages, unemployment, climate change, and personal family or health issues. In reality, all of life is a survival challenge, and a survival emergency is just a high-intensity life test. These ten survival principles are the key to success in everyday life, especially during an emergency.

As the world gets more dangerous, you have to be prepared for anything, even the worst. In 150 Survival Secrets, seasoned survivalist James C. Jones provides insider tips to help you and your family survive any catastrophe. Divided into practical sections, 150 Survival Secrets answers every question you've ever had about disaster preparedness. One section lists the practical details of making it through any kind of emergency situation. Some topics include: How to survive extreme winter conditionsHow to put together a homemade survival kit in the case of an emergencyHow to safely evacuate from an urban area during a disasterHow much and what type of food to store at home for long-term emergenciesHow to survive an active shooter situationHow to treat common injuries. Other sections answer everything you've ever wondered about disaster prepping, including what being a survivalist entails, how to equip your home for survival situations, what gear is essential for a survivalist to own, what elements are essential in a good emergency plan, what types of disasters you can expect to face in your lifetime, and more. So what are you waiting for? With 150 Survival Secrets, you'll be prepared for anything and everything.

This completely updated version of An Introduction to Emergency Exercise Design and Evaluation is designed to help practitioners and students of emergency management understand various aspects of the exercise design process. Emergency exercises are an important component of an organization's emergency planning and preparedness, yet few emergency managers and practitioners have training in designing or evaluating them. In this updated and practical handbook, author Robert McCreight explains the essential elements and core principles of exercise design and evaluation. This book focuses on natural disasters and technological emergencies that occur in communities of any size. It provides emergency planners, public health professionals, emergency managers, police officers, and fire fighters with an in-depth look at exercise design issues and an accessible guide to designing and evaluating emergency exercises.

Flooding is the natural hazard with the greatest economic and social impact in the United States, and these impacts are becoming more severe over time. Catastrophic flooding from recent hurricanes, including Superstorm Sandy in New York (2012) and Hurricane Harvey in Houston (2017), caused billions of dollars in property damage, adversely affected millions of people, and damaged the economic well-being of major metropolitan areas. Flooding takes a heavy toll even in years without a named storm or event. Major freshwater flood events from 2004 to 2014 cost an average of $9 billion in direct damage and 71 lives annually. These figures do not include the cumulative costs of frequent, small floods, which can be similar to those of infrequent extreme floods. Framing the Challenge of Urban Flooding in the United States contributes to existing knowledge by examining real-world examples in specific metropolitan areas. This report identifies commonalities and variances among the case study metropolitan areas in terms of causes, adverse impacts, unexpected problems in recovery, or effective mitigation strategies, as well as key themes of urban flooding. It also relates, as appropriate, causes and actions of urban flooding to existing federal resources or policies.

This book addresses unexpected disasters and shocks in cities and urban systems by providing quantitative and qualitative tools for impact analysis and disaster management. Including environmental catastrophes, political turbulence and economic shocks, Resilience and Urban Disasters explores a large range of tumultuous events and key case studies to thoroughly cover these core areas. Chapters explore novel contributions on urban evolution and adjustment patterns based on studies from across the globe. Both causal mechanisms and policy responses to the high social costs of urban disasters are addressed. In particular, the book explores the socio-economic impacts on urban systems that are subject to disasters, including migration due to large earthquakes in Japan, the economic impact of terrorist attacks in Istanbul and labour market changes as a result of natural disasters in Italy. Urban planning and urban economics scholars will greatly benefit from the multidisciplinary analyses of a variety of case studies in the book. City planners and urban administrators will also find the exploration of potential paths of resilience for cities to be an invaluable tool for future planning.Contributors include: K. Borsekova, M. Dobrík, K. Fabián, R. Fabling, D.l. Felsenstein, R. Goncharov, A. Grimes, A.Y. Grinberger, T. Inal-Çekiç, Y. Ishikawa, M. Morisugi, K. Nakajima, P. Nijkamp, M.D. Özügül, F. Pagliacci, M. Russo, L. Rýsová, N. Sakamoto, E. Seçkin, M. Taheri Tafti, L. Timar, N. Zamyatina

When natural disasters and emergencies strike, the short- and long-term effects of these events on first responders—the very people society relies upon in the midst of a catastrophe—are often overlooked. Policing in Natural Disasters provides a comprehensive analysis of the major challenges faced by law enforcement officers during extreme crisis events. Terri Adams and Leigh Anderson examine the dilemmas police departments face as well as the impact of the disasters on the professional and personal lives of the officers. Case studies explore the response and recovery phases of emergencies including Hurricane Katrina, the 2010 earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Santiago, Chile, and the Superstorm Tornado Outbreak in 2011. Policing in Natural Disasters was inspired by the personal accounts of triumph and tragedy shared by first responders. It provides an understanding of first-responder behaviors during disasters, as well as the preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery policy implications for first responders and emergency managers. As first responders must frequently cope with stress, uncertainty, and threats to their health and safety during high-consequence events, Adams and Anderson provide lessons from first-hand experiences of police officers that can lead to better management in times of crisis.

This book offers anthropological insights into disasters in Latin America. It fills a gap in the literature by bringing together national and regional perspectives in the study of disasters.The book essentially explores the emergence and development of anthropological studies of disasters. It adopts a methodological approach based on ethnography, participant observation, and field research to assess the social and historical constructions of disasters and how these are perceived by people of a certain region. This regional perspective helps assess long-term dynamics, regional capacities, and regional-global interactions on disaster sites. With chapters written by prominent Latin American anthropologists, this book also considers the role of the state and other nongovernmental organizations in managing disasters and the specific conditions of each country, relative to a greater or lesser incidence of disastrous events.Globalizing the existing literature on disasters with a focus on Latin America, this book offers multidisciplinary insights that will be of interest to academics and students of geography, anthropology, sociology, and political science.