Description
As a well balanced and fully illustrated introductory text, this book provides a comprehensive overview of the physical, technological and social components of natural disaster. The main disaster-producing agents are reviewed systematically in terms of geophysical processes and effects, monitoring, mitigation and warning. The relationship between disasters and society is examined with respect to a wide variety of themes, including damage assessment and prevention, hazard mapping, emergency preparedness, the provision of shelter and the nature of reconstruction. Medical emergencies and the epidemiology of disasters are described, and refugee management and aid to the Third World are discussed. A chapter is devoted to the sociology, psychology, economics and history of disasters.; In many parts of the world the toll of death, injury, damage and deprivation caused by natural disasters is becoming increasingly serious. Major earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, droughts, floods and other similar catastrophes are often followed by large relief operations characterized by substantial involvement of the international community. The years 1990-2000 have therefore been designated by the United Nations as the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction.; The book goes beyond mere description and elevates the field of natural catastrophes to a serious academic level. The author's insights and perspectives are also informed by his practical experience of being a disaster victim and survivor, and hence the unique perspective of a participant observer. Only by surmounting the boundaries between disciplines can natural catastrophe be understood and mitigation efforts made effective. Thus, this book is perhaps the first completely interdisciplinary, fully comprehensive survey of natural hazards and disasters. It has a clear theoretical basis and it recognizes the importance of six fundamental approaches to the field, which it blends carefully in the text in order to avoid the p
Table of Contents
List of tables
Preface
Acknowledgements
Introduction
The global program
Definitions and basic concepts
Misconceptions about natural disaster
Time and space in disaster
Formulating intensity measures
References
Select bibliography
The Geophysical Agents
Earthquakes and volcanoes
The physical nature of earthquakes
Predicating earthquakes
The human impact of seismic hazards
The lessons of recent events
Tsunamis
Volcanic eruptions
References
Select bibliography
Atmospheric and hydrological hazards
Floods
Drought
Hurricanes
Tornadoes
Lightning
Hailstorms
Avalanches
Glacier hazards
Snow as hazard to the urban system
Frost hazards
References
Select bibliography
Disasters and the land surface
Soil erosion
Desertification
Landslides
Seismically generated landslides
Subsidence
Soil hazards
Coastal erosion
Forest and range fires
References
Select bibliography
The Human Impact and Response
Damage and the built environment
Earthquake damage
Costing and surveying damage
Buildings, structures and public safety
Hazards and the urban environment
High-rise buildings in disaster
Dam disasters
References
Select bibliography
The logistics of planning and emergency action
Disaster and hazard mapping
Remote sensing and disasters
Models of disaster and their practical uses
Disaster warning
Planning for disasters
Disasters an
