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The article looks at the failure of the U.S. government, under U.S. President Donald Trump, to control the nationwide transmission of COVID-19 which greatly affected its economy and healthcare system as of August 2020. Topics discussed include impact on the citizens' health and financial condition, views of epidemiologist Julia Marcus of Harvard Medical School on the country's failure to control the infection, and the extent of Trump's reported failure in dealing with the crisis.

The article discusses the Sendai earthquake which struck Japan on March 11, 2011 and the subsequent tsunami and accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant caused by the natural disaster. The extreme damage caused by these disasters is considered, as is the disruption they have caused in Japan's economy.

Coronavirus cases are rising sharply in South America, made worse by inequality, reports Luke Taylor from Bogotá, Colombia [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the ongoing Hurricane Katrina cleanup effort in New Orleans, Louisiana. The author describes how the atmosphere on Bourbon Street has become somewhat normal while the hurricane-ravaged housing subdivisions off Lake Pontchartrain are still disaster areas. Mayor Ray Nagin has opened New Orleans up to returning evacuees, but only an estimated 60,000 people are living in the city. Economic aspects of the hurricane damage and clean up effort are reviewed. The article includes comments on the clean up efforts from various New Orleans residents.

Objective. Characterize the patterns in the occurrence of disasters, associated deaths, population affected, and economic damages in Mexico over the period 1900-2016. Methods. In a descriptive study approach, information was gathered on the frequency of disasters, associated deaths, persons affected, and economic damages in Mexico over the period indicated, using the International Disaster Database (EMDAT) of the Center for Disaster Epidemiology Research (CRED) of the School of Public Health, Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium. Results. In Mexico, an increase was observed in the frequency of disasters starting in the 1990s. According to the pattern of occurrence, the highest percentage were of hydrometeorological origin (storms, extreme temperatures, floods, avalanches, and storm surges), which accounted for half the reported disasters. In the series analyzed, disasters of hydrologic, meteorological, or climatological origin represented between 50% and 60% of the events and were the ones that caused the greatest damage. Geophysical events caused the most deaths, followed by hydrologic and then by meteorological events. The cost of damages increased with each decade. Conclusions. Of the 219 disasters analyzed over the period, 63.4% have occurred since 1990. The frequency of the disasters and the need for investment in their prevention and mitigation are increasing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the economic aspects of damage and recovery efforts related to hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria in the U.S. Emphasis is given to topics such as the purchasing of good and materials with money from insurance and relief aid, relocating residents in flood-prone areas, and partnering with companies in flood management and infrastructural development.

The article discusses investment opportunities in relation to climate change adaptation efforts such as investment in sea walls. Topics include the impacts of hurricanes on the U.S. economy, accounting for weather-related risks in investments, and the relation of climate change to investment in municipal bonds.

The article discusses the costly aftermath of the tornado that hit Illinois on November 17, 2013 to district schools. Topics discussed include the financial costs in rebuilding homes and businesses along with lowered property tax revenues, attendance, enrollment and transportation issues due to school closures, school repairs, and additional transportation costs from displaced students, and the emotional trauma suffered by school children.

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses articles in the issue on topics including the impact of social catastrophe on economy, the management of the COVID-19 pandemic by former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott and increasing business bankruptcies in Victoria, as of 2020.

The article offers the author's insights on the tropical cyclone Tracy that affected Darwin in Australia in 1974and the looting that happened after the typhoon. The author mentions that only 15 people were arrested after the calamity for possession of stolen goods. The author also cites Kate Cairns, who was a survivor in the calamity and considers looting as a form of sharing rather than stealing.

The article offers information on negative impact of the Tsunami disaster on the economy and businesses of tourism related companies in Hawaii. It also mentions that there has been wide decline in the tourism sector of the company after the disaster has struck the ground. It also discusses the story of store owner Toru Yamaguchi regarding the low sales of his surfing store due to negative impact of disaster.

The article discusses the ways to reduce the risks of catastrophes which may result to economic losses. It highlights the types of extreme events that happened in the U.S. which include the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001, natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the financial crisis of 2008. It examines the features that could contribute to such disasters including the failure of key decision makers to undertake risk reducing measures and the lack of insurance availability.

The article looks at the risk assessment conducted by Cambridge University's Judge Business School and the Centre for Risk Studies of different types of catastrophic treats and the risks they pose to productive cities. The Cambridge Risk Framework was used to assess the economic damage of a disaster, along with the development of a taxonomy of threats. The study reveals that manmade threats, such as a market crash or banking crisis, posed as much economic risk as natural disasters.

The article profiles author Naomi Klein. Klein wrote the book "The Shock Doctrine," which suggests that disasters and crises allow governments to impose conditions favorable to capitalism on populations. Klein based her book on commercial interests being promoted in Iraq during the Iraq War and Sri Lanka following a tsunami. The author discusses the leftist politics of Klein's family and her marriage to documentary filmmaker Avi Lewis.

The article offers information on the series of fires that occurred in Southern California in October 2007, collectively known as the Southern California Firestorm of 2007. It presents the estimated loss and damages as the result of the fire explosions including on agriculture sector, residential properties and other valuable structures. It also provides a detailed description on the occurrence of fires in several states in the U.S. including in Texas, Florida and North Carolina.

The article reports on the government's continual implementation of quarantine measures in the Philippines in an aim to control the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus as of July 2020. Topics discussed include impact on employment and business establishments, the closure of schools, offices, and public transport since March, and its impact on the economy. The Department of Health's response to the virus is also discussed.

The article reports on the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in India as of July 2020. Topics discussed include possible impact of the government's effort to enhance its testing capabilities, impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the people's financial and economic state, and the possibility of undercounting deaths.

The article discusses the economic impact of COVID-19 transmission particularly on the poor people in the U.S. as of July 2020. Topics covered include the state of poverty according to economists from the University of Chicago in Illinois and the University of Notre Dame in Indiana from April to May 2020, impact of the government-provided stimulus on the poor, and the state of unemployment.

Rutgers sociologist and disaster studies expert Lee Clarke discusses how organizations unwittingly make pie-in-the-sky plans-what he calls symbolic plans-that are often worse than useless. He advises companies to expose and reassess these unrealistic strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports on the raising of premiums for commercial insurance by the United States property and casualty insurance industry. Rates; Capacity; Ability ot write coverage; Insurance burdens of employers; Statistics; Higher prices for small business, according to the Independent Insurance Agents of America; Disasters; Cost for industry legal defences; Plumetting of long-term interest; Stock markets. INSETS: Smart shopping.;Meanwhile, out on the highway..

Explains how to be financially prepared for disasters. Insure for replacement value; Bill Anderson, Independent Insurance Agents of America; Natural disasters; National Flood Insurance Program; Add-ons and riders; Choosing an insurer; Costs; Protecting savings; Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC); Long-term disability insurance; Comment by Thomas Roehl; Pension plans; Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration; Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp (PBGC); Resources; More.

Evaluates the degree of destruction brought about by the ice storm disaster that hit Canada in 1998. Damages caused by storm on Canadian forestry; Effects of destruction on people who rely on trees for livelihood; Other places affected by the ice storm. INSETS: Feast and famine;Storm tally.

Focuses on the legal issues brought by disasters like El Nio and La Nia which lawyers should address. Practical issues on recovery; Housing and property matters; Insurance-related problems; Consumer frauds; How lawyer practice should deal with the issues.

Reports on the financial aspect of state preparedness and planning for state emergencies and natural disasters in the United States. Statistics on state pre-disaster and post-disaster spending for the fiscal years 1992 to 1994; Trends in emergency management funding; State funding mechanisms for disaster assistance. INSETS: State expenditures.;CSG resources..

Focuses on the economic aspects of disasters. Contention that federal funds should not be used to rebuild private property destroyed during disasters; Need to rethink the concept of emergency aid from the government; Disaster Relief Act of 1974's mandate for insurers to cover homes on risky places; Federal concessions granted to California due to the disasters it experienced in 1993 and 1994.

Focuses on the need for people to know the insurance system in order to cope up with disasters. Role of the Federal Emergency Management Agency; Importance of insurance; Offer of tax breaks from the Internal Revenue Service; Tips for coping up with disasters. INSETS: Totaled.;Renewed.;Prepared.;Suspended.

The article discusses the impacts of fire and the hurricane Sandy that struck the state of Colorado and New Jersey respectively and the life reinvention by two survivors. It mentions Linda Masterson, who wrote a book after escaping the disaster, which inspired a book titled "Surviving Wildfire: Get Prepared, Stay Alive, Rebuild Your Life". It describes Laura DiPasquale who wanted to be a performer but after the disaster which left her house devastated, she had to start a deejay business.

Argues that most federal disaster aid is simply political pork, especially in states, like Florida and California, with lots of voters. How the bulk of federal disaster aid goes to people who live in areas where natural disasters are foreseeable; How California has received more than half of all federal disaster aid doled out between 1990 and 1995; How most people do not carry flood insurance; Other problems with federal disaster relief programs. INSET: Insurer of last resort.

The article presents the third part of the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Internal Revenue Service (IRS) document entitled "Administrative, Procedural and Miscellaneous," which focuses on bonus depreciation for the Kansas disaster area. The document includes information on depreciation deduction for qualified Gulf Opportunity Zone property and claiming of the Kansas additional first year depreciation for the taxable year.

The article reports on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on choral singing as a quintessentially social art form. Topics discussed include cancellation of rehearsals and choral singing in Sweden due to COVID-19 and its impact on social workers like Emilia Olsson, financial impact on professional and amateur singers, and views of singer Annie Sedley of the Royal Free Music Society Choir in London, England on the social importance of choral singing.

The article reports on the state of the business sector, including the corporate bond market, in the U.S. and Europe amidst the COVID-19 pandemic as of July 2020. Topics discussed include operational and market performance of corporations including British retail firm Marks & Spencer and U.S.-based food company Kraft Heinz, impact of the COVID-19 lockdown measures on the industrial sector, and the state of speculative-grade bonds trading.

The article reports on the state of the economy in Spain amidst the COVID-19 pandemic as of July 2020. Topics discussed include decision of the government to ease down its lockdown policy in June, plan of the government of Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez for the economic recovery, and the scale of the pandemic's impact on the country's economy.

The article expresses views on the aspect of self-sufficiency as people strive to cope by expanding skills from professional works to handicrafts amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Topics discussed include comparison between professional works and the experience of crafting, economic impact of the pandemic, and the increasing role of social media amidst the pandemic.

The article provides guidelines on how to raise economic stimuli amidst the surging cases of COVID-19 as of July 11, 2020. Topics discussed include state of the economy in regions with developed countries, unemployment rates in the U.S. and Great Britain, and the launch of various stimulus programs and the impact on these countries' economies.

The article examines the financial market reaction to the Sendai earthquake and Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident in Japan and offers stock price forecasting. A sharp decline in Japan's stock prices and prices of nuclear industry stocks is discussed. Stock price index history from previous disasters such as the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant accident is considered, and it is noted that similar declines were quickly reversed. It is forecast that this pattern will repeat itself.

The article discusses the idea of the workplace recovery center, designed by Ken Israel. Exchange Resources, a workplace recovery center in Minnetonka, Minnesota, is described, citing its services in providing a place for businesses to move to and operate from during natural disasters or other business interruptions.

Presents an editorial regarding the article "Preparing for a Pandemic," found in the November issue of "Scientific American," regarding the next influenza pandemic. Lack of emergency preparedness of the United States federal government for the disaster of Hurricane Katrina in the city of New Orleans, Louisiana; Prediction that the avian influenza virus will be the next cause of an influenza pandemic; Suggestion that the federal government promote yearly influenza vaccinations.

Presents the author's views on the economic impact of disasters, in light of the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina. Review of the world's largest economic disasters in the 20th century were man-made, not natural disasters; Definition of an economic disaster as a collapse of gross domestic product by at least 15% over a short period; Discussion of how economic catastrophes, though infrequent, effect every day financial markets; Economic impact of Hurricane Katrina.

The article mentions four disasters in the United States where the regional economies were in full rebound in three years. The disasters include two earthquakes, a hurricane, and a terrorist attack. The regions are San Francisco, Miami, Los Angeles, and New York. Data for three key indicators, per capita income, total employment, and value of new residential construction, is given.

Discusses the steps that homeowners can take to prepare for disasters, such as fires. Explanation of what home insurance for disasters typically covers; Suggestions for selecting the correct amount and type of coverage; Importance of an updated home inventory.

Discusses the impacts on insurers of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks which destroyed the World Trade Center in New York City, damaged the Pentagon and killed thousands. Statement that the catastrophe is certain to result in huge claims and extensive litigation for insurers, costing them as much as 30 billion dollars; Expectation that the industry will be able to sustain this cost; Possible impact of business interruption claims; Outlook for the insurance industry.

Comments on free enterprise and how disaster can bring commercial opportunity in the United States. The example of gun control legislation enacted in the wake of the Littleton, Colorado school shootings; Impact on manufacturers of gun safety locks; The proposal to give school districts the right to display the Ten Commandments.

The article reports that typhoon Lekima which affected East China in August has killed 32 people and left 16 missing in coastal Zhejiang province. Topics covered include the damage left by typhoon, such as the destruction of more than 3,000 homes, flight cancellations and suspension of high-speed rail services caused by the typhoon, and the direct economic loss of the storm.

The article offers information on the report on catastrophe loss estimates related to the California wildfires by the insurance company, Chubb. Topics discussed include information on the climatic factors associated with the wildfires; discussions on the commercial and personal property losses due to the wildfires; and the information on the estimation of the tax rate on catastrophe losses to the insurance company, Chubb.

The article offers information on the report of Lee Griggs, "Time's" Nairobi bureau chief, regarding the current problems faced by Tanzania. The mentioned problems of Tanzania includes economic disaster, adherence to doctrinaire socialism particularly the nation's farming areas and poverty. However, President Julius Nyerere of Tanzania offers several solutions to the problem particularly the establishment of ujamaa cooperative villages wherein no fewer than 3 million people were moved into the village. Moreover, it also discusses other actions of President Nyerere to aid poverty in his country.

The article reports on the study conducted by Tokai Bank on the effect on international finance should a major earthquake hit Tokyo, Japan. Utilizing a report from the National Land Agency, Tokai Bank predicts that Tokyo would suffer around 570 billion dollars in damages from an earthquake. As a consequence, Japan would have to cease exporting capital, thus triggering U.S. recession which in turn would cause world depression.

The article reports that insurance company Chubb has estimated first quarter (Q1) catastrophe losses for 2018 for taxation. Topics discussed include views of California Department of Insurance on insured losses caused by mudslide in Montecito, California, losses for insurers caused by wildfire in California, and pre-tax losses from winter storms .