During the 1980's, many Americans participated directly and indirectly in the drama and tragedy of major catastrophes, from volcanic eruptions to air crashes, closing the decade with the devastating Exxon Valdez oil spill, Hurricane Hugo, and the San Francisco earthquake. The objective of this volume is to examine how we have addressed some of the major hazards and, to the extent possible, assess the effectiveness of these efforts. This volume inventories and evaluates the major programs and policies designed to deal with the most common and destructive natural and man-made disasters, dividing them into four categories: mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. Disaster-types included in the handbook are earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, fires, droughts, hazardous materials accidents, nuclear facility accidents, structural failures, and transportation accidents. Following the analyses of specific disaster-types, the book considers the utility of all-hazard programs, such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Integrated Emergency Management System and documents the status of present emergency management efforts in the United States. A list of emergency management organizations is also included.

Each disaster-type is evaluated in terms of the frequency of occurrence, potential for property loss and human casualties, predictability of events, and the history of such disasters in the United States. In addition to analyzing the disasters themselves, the book outlines the development of emergency management efforts by federal, state, and local governments; the major problems in designing policy to respond to the specific risks and hazards, as well as some of the major policy alternatives. The analyses address questions of issue salience, levels of program funding, and technical problems. Due to the wide variety of responses at the state and local levels, the primary focus is on federal emergency management program. This book will serve students, officials, and academic researchers by providing an overview of the major emergency management program areas. The addition of graphs, tables, and maps will assist nonspecialists in understanding the nature of the disasters and risks being discussed.

Volume 18 of the Community, Environment and Disaster Risk Management series looks at how cities and countries recover from catastrophic disasters with a specific focus on Asia. Asia has experienced devastating disasters over the centuries. Proximity to the seismically active "Ring of Fire" and other plate boundaries, long Pacific and Indian Ocean coastlines, major river and tributary courses, desert and semi-desert areas, and other geographic features create a diversity of hazards and potential hazards. Chapters cover topics including International Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Recovery, Disaster exceptionalism in India, Immigrant and refugee experiences in Canterbury and Tohoku, Citizen Participation in the Disaster Reconstruction Process after the Great East Japan Earthquake, and Social Capital and Changes in Post-Disaster Recovery Process in China after the 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake.

The Community, Environment and Disaster Risk Management series deals with a wide range of issues relating to global environmental hazards, natural and man-made disasters, and approaches to disaster risk reduction. As people and communities are the first and the most important responders to disasters and environment-related problems, this series aims to analyse critical field-based mechanisms which link community, policy, and governance systems. Justice, Equity and Emergency Management takes the principles proposed in Disaster Recovery Through the Lens of Justice and applies a justice and equity lens across all phases of emergency management, focusing on key topics such as hazard mitigation, emerging technologies, long-term recovery, and others. The authors in this volume interrogate the applicability of the principles to technological innovation, indigenous peoples, persons with access and functional needs, agricultural disasters, and several other contexts. It is our hope that this effort will lead us closer to truly operationalizing and applying these principles in a way that leads to systemic change and better outcomes.

Flood risk management requires a multi-disciplinary approach with experts from the fields of health, town planning, civil engineering, computer science and mathematical statistics. This volume presents chapters highlighting the methodologies and tools developed to improve flood management and flood risk reduction. Chapters in this important volume consider research on Emerging economies and developing countries and the case studies are focused in Malaysia, China and South-East Asia. The book presents key research from areas of the globe where flood management has not traditionally been studied but where the effects of climate change and natural disasters present huge challenges for societies in the region. This volume, edited by leaders in the field of disaster management, would of be particular interest to students, researchers and policy specialists involved with examining flood related risk reduction methods and systems for key decision makers.

Provides an overview of state and local taxation, the current and future outlook across the nation, the role of taxes in economic development, and tax administration. Analyzes and compares all types of state and local taxes-income (individual and corporate) sales (retail and wholesale taxes on food, medicine, gas, and electricity), excise and consumption (on motor fuel, tobacco, and alcoholic beverages and on food, lodging, amusements, parimutuels, and lotteries), property (on different types of property), and severance taxes (on timber and minerals). Examines the philosophy behind the different taxes, recent trends, and current and future policy options. Appendices describing policy analysis and evaluation and listing key sources of information about state and local taxes, many statistical exhibits, and selective bibliography further enhance this reference for undergraduate and graduate students, the general public, and for public administrators, economists, and political scientists.

Provides an introduction to emergency management, for public administrators, local officials, and students in public administration and in-service training courses.

Overviews the history of emergency management and its evolution, and details the organization of emergency management systems from local to international and governmental levels.

Gives examples and advice on managing natural and manmade hazards and disasters, and discusses policy issues in the management of risk, emergencies, and disasters.

This is the first concise introduction to emergency management, the emerging profession that deals with disasters from floods and earthquakes to terrorist attacks. Twenty case studies illustrate the handling of actual disasters including the Northridge Earthquake and the Oklahoma City Bombing. Discussion questions and guides to on-line information sources facilitate use of the book in the classroom and professional training programs.

Watching the disastrous response to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina was like watching "a train wreck in slow motion." Katrina exposed the weakness of existing emergency management and response policies on all levels local, state, and federal.

Poor planning, poor decision-making, and poor communication before, during, and after Katrina betrayed public confidence in the ability of public officials to effectively organize and manage emergency response. The bungled response cost lives and property. So what lessons have been learned and what changes should be made?

Both the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) policies and practices must be further scrutinized in order to repair the national emergency management system and restore the nation's capacity to deal with catastrophic disasters.

This volume of The Annals uncovers the troublesome roots of concern with the DHS, FEMA, and the responsibility of public officials at all levels and recommends changes that will lead to a functioning emergency management system. Only by shedding light on the underlying problems of current policy and practices can the lessons from Katrina truly be learned and steps taken to fix the system.

Policymakers and scholars alike will find that this intriguing issue offers insight and study that looks deeper than the obvious failures. From studies in presidential leadership to issues in temporary housing and shelter as well as mental and physical health concerns, this volume reviews the consequences and costs of Katrina on several levels and also provides a springboard for concrete changes in policy and practices to take hold. "