Degrees of Disaster

Degrees of Disaster
Author: Jeff Wheelwright
Publisher:
Total Pages: 360
Release: 1994
Genre: Nature
ISBN:

Animal populations rise and fall; variability and patchiness are the rule. The factors that cause biological change are numerous and overlapping and often can't be sorted out in spite of the best efforts of scientists. But an ecosystem such as Prince William Sound readily recovers from disturbances in part because the disturbances are so routine.

Decision Aid Models for Disaster Management and Emergencies

Decision Aid Models for Disaster Management and Emergencies
Author: Begoña Vitoriano
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 333
Release: 2013-01-26
Genre: Computers
ISBN: 9491216740

Disaster management is a process or strategy that is implemented when any type of catastrophic event takes place. The process may be initiated when anything threatens to disrupt normal operations or puts the lives of human beings at risk. Governments on all levels as well as many businesses create some sort of disaster plan that make it possible to overcome the catastrophe and return to normal function as quickly as possible. Response to natural disasters (e.g., floods, earthquakes) or technological disaster (e.g., nuclear, chemical) is an extreme complex process that involves severe time pressure, various uncertainties, high non-linearity and many stakeholders. Disaster management often requires several autonomous agencies to collaboratively mitigate, prepare, respond, and recover from heterogeneous and dynamic sets of hazards to society. Almost all disasters involve high degrees of novelty to deal with most unexpected various uncertainties and dynamic time pressures. Existing studies and approaches within disaster management have mainly been focused on some specific type of disasters with certain agency oriented. There is a lack of a general framework to deal with similarities and synergies among different disasters by taking their specific features into account. This book provides with various decisions analysis theories and support tools in complex systems in general and in disaster management in particular. The book is also generated during a long-term preparation of a European project proposal among most leading experts in the areas related to the book title. Chapters are evaluated based on quality and originality in theory and methodology, application oriented, relevance to the title of the book.

The Sociology of Disaster

The Sociology of Disaster
Author: Thomas E. Drabek
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 302
Release: 2019-09-02
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 1000651983

In a book as illuminating as it is captivating, Thomas E. Drabek presents an in-depth analysis of the emotional impacts of disaster events and the many ripple effects that follow. Through the technique of storytelling, a series of nine fictional stories where characters experience actual disasters of different types throughout the United States illustrate the vulnerabilities and resilience to enhance the readers understanding of disaster consequences. Designed for classroom use, each story is followed by an "Analysis" section wherein discussion and research paper topics are recommended. These highlight links to published research findings. A "References" section details citations for all works included. Brief commentary in a "Notes" section adds further connections to other disasters and relevant research studies. The Sociology of Disaster is an important innovation in disaster education and will become an invaluable resource within universities and colleges that offer degrees in emergency management at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Contextualizing Disaster

Contextualizing Disaster
Author: Gregory V. Button
Publisher: Berghahn Books
Total Pages: 214
Release: 2016-09-01
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 1785332813

Contextualizing Disaster offers a comparative analysis of six recent "highly visible" disasters and several slow-burning, "hidden," crises that include typhoons, tsunamis, earthquakes, chemical spills, and the unfolding consequences of rising seas and climate change. The book argues that, while disasters are increasingly represented by the media as unique, exceptional, newsworthy events, it is a mistake to think of disasters as isolated or discrete occurrences. Rather, building on insights developed by political ecologists, this book makes a compelling argument for understanding disasters as transnational and global phenomena.

Catastrophic Disaster Planning and Response

Catastrophic Disaster Planning and Response
Author: Clifford Oliver
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 376
Release: 2010-07-20
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1439841756

Presenting cutting-edge domestic and international approaches, Catastrophic Disaster Planning and Response explains how to effectively plan for and manage the consequences of a catastrophe. Recognizing that a business-as-usual approach to preparing for and responding to such events is doomed to fail, the book fills a gap in emergency management education. It introduces the many considerations that influence how we plan for and respond to large-scale catastrophes and how it differs from preparing for smaller-scale emergencies. Written by a recognized expert in emergency management, this volume is a thorough study of the planning process and response procedures for catastrophic disasters. Topics discussed include: The history of catastrophic events, both in and outside the United States How catastrophes differ from disasters and emergencies and how they are all part of the emergency management continuum The varying definitions of catastrophes and their political and societal implications The main ethical and value dilemmas that one will likely face before, during, and after a catastrophe The legal framework associated with government response to catastrophes The post-catastrophic environment that an emergency manager might experience, with a focus on logistics, critical infrastructure, mass care, and mass evacuation Planning strategies and skills an emergency manager can employ to mitigate the effects of such an event The use of crisis leadership skills and how to lead and influence others in a catastrophic situation Recent major events provide valuable lessons that demonstrate the characteristics of a catastrophic disaster, the special issues of response and recovery, and the necessary preparation on international, national, and local levels. Offering best practices using recent real-world case studies, the book provides a foundation for continued study and critical reflection. Catastrophic Disaster Planning and Response is one of only two books utilized by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) in their elite 2010 Flag Office/SES Executive Change Leadership Program (ECL) curriculum. The ECL program develops the executive leadership skills of USCG Admiral-selects awaiting Senate confirmation, as well as members of the Department of Homeland Security's federal Senior Executive Service (SES), which in 2010 included representatives from the U.S. Secret Service, the Transportation Security Administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the U.S. Border Patrol, Citizenship and Immigration Services, and FEMA. Readily adaptable for classroom use, this cutting-edge professional reference provides qualifying instructors with access to teaching materials and a test bank.

Forms of Community Participation in Disaster Risk Management Practices

Forms of Community Participation in Disaster Risk Management Practices
Author: Rabindra Osti
Publisher: Nova Science Publishers
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2011
Genre: Disaster relief
ISBN: 9781611223033

Disaster management, which involves prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response and rehabilitation efforts, has been discussed for a long time. In short, such management stages can be classified into before, during and after event activities. Disaster preparedness can be referred to as all measures taken to prepare in advance aiming at reducing the impact of possible disasters. Although all preparedness activities aim at reducing the damage at community, on-site practicality, which concerns the full utilisation of the capacities particularly at the time of emergency, has not been well documented, possibly because of difficulties in visualising emergency contexts to be faced by local communities. This book focuses on the methodological approach of CBDRM that has been practised in different parts of the world, mostly in highly disaster-prone Asian localities.

Heat Wave

Heat Wave
Author: Eric Klinenberg
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Total Pages: 342
Release: 2015-05-06
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 022627621X

The “compelling” story behind the 1995 Chicago weather disaster that killed hundreds—and what it revealed about our broken society (Boston Globe). On July 13, 1995, Chicagoans awoke to a blistering day in which the temperature would reach 106 degrees. The heat index—how the temperature actually feels on the body—would hit 126. When the heat wave broke a week later, city streets had buckled; records for electrical use were shattered; and power grids had failed, leaving residents without electricity for up to two days. By July 20, over seven hundred people had perished—twenty times the number of those struck down by Hurricane Andrew in 1992. Heat waves kill more Americans than all other natural disasters combined. Until now, no one could explain either the overwhelming number or the heartbreaking manner of the deaths resulting from the 1995 Chicago heat wave. Meteorologists and medical scientists have been unable to account for the scale of the trauma, and political officials have puzzled over the sources of the city’s vulnerability. In Heat Wave, Eric Klinenberg takes us inside the anatomy of the metropolis to conduct what he calls a “social autopsy,” examining the social, political, and institutional organs of the city that made this urban disaster so much worse than it ought to have been. He investigates why some neighborhoods experienced greater mortality than others, how city government responded, and how journalists, scientists, and public officials reported and explained these events. Through years of fieldwork, interviews, and research, he uncovers the surprising and unsettling forms of social breakdown that contributed to this human catastrophe as hundreds died alone behind locked doors and sealed windows, out of contact with friends, family, community groups, and public agencies. As this incisive and gripping account demonstrates, the widening cracks in the social foundations of American cities made visible by the 1995 heat wave remain in play in America’s cities today—and we ignore them at our peril. Includes photos and a new preface on meeting the challenges of climate change in urban centers “Heat Wave is not so much a book about weather, as it is about the calamitous consequences of forgetting our fellow citizens. . . . A provocative, fascinating book, one that applies to much more than weather disasters.” —Chicago Sun-Times “It’s hard to put down Heat Wave without believing you’ve just read a tale of slow murder by public policy.” —Salon “A classic. I can’t recommend it enough.” —Chris Hayes

Text book of Disaster Management

Text book of Disaster Management
Author: A.K.Shrivastava
Publisher: Scientific Publishers
Total Pages: 26
Release:
Genre: Juvenile Nonfiction
ISBN: 9389412463

India is prone to many natural and manmade disasters every year and thus possesses a physical and economical crisis for human being. If nothing is prepared it will difficult to deal with the many challenges following a disaster. Disaster management is a multidisciplinary area,covering a wide range of issues such as monitoring, forecasting, evacuation, search and rescue, relief, reconstruction and rehabilitation. The management aspects like activities, awareness and use of state of art technology can play an important role in the minimization of its impact on people and their properties. The foremost aim of writing this book is to empower the students by providing the basic and general knowledge, services to be rendered in a disaster situation. The framework of disaster management at national, state and district level is facilitates their role and responsibilities to be undertaken in disaster situation is described including the policy, planning, organizational, operational, and other matters. The book covers all the task of implementation of the initiative of inculcating the culture of preparedness in the community as they are the first responders in case of a disaster. The book includes, what, how, when and by whom what should be done before, during and after a disaster takes place. The book highlights the impacts of disasters on life and economy and provides concise information for their management. The monitoring, forecasting of many natural disaster and role of ministry and departments are explained in this text book. How the rescue and rehabilitation to be undertaken to fulfill the day to day need of affected people is also provided. To comprehend the reading more lucid the book has been divided into different chapters. The book will be of interest to students, faculty, community leaders, self-trained disaster managers, social workers, media personnel, bureaucrats and citizen. It will be an asset to any student who are pursuing a degree or appearing for any competitive examination

Facing Hazards and Disasters

Facing Hazards and Disasters
Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 409
Release: 2006-09-10
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 0309101786

Social science research conducted since the late 1970's has contributed greatly to society's ability to mitigate and adapt to natural, technological, and willful disasters. However, as evidenced by Hurricane Katrina, the Indian Ocean tsunami, the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, and other recent events, hazards and disaster research and its application could be improved greatly. In particular, more studies should be pursued that compare how the characteristics of different types of events-including predictability, forewarning, magnitude, and duration of impact-affect societal vulnerability and response. This book includes more than thirty recommendations for the hazards and disaster community.

Community Disaster Recovery

Community Disaster Recovery
Author: Deserai A. Crow
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 299
Release: 2021-10-21
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1316511642

Crow and Albright outline if, what, and when communities learn from disasters to make them more resilient to future shocks.