Comprising a selection of articles dedicated to disaster management this volume focuses on the challenges arising from extreme natural phenomena and descriptions of methods for assessing their occurrence probability and of measures for mitigating their intensity and detrimental effects. The first group of articles describes general strategies for risk assessment and mitigation, providing examples in the context of various kinds of natural disasters. The economic impact of mitigation measures, communities’ differing coping capabilities, human attitudes towards relocation and possible links to climate change are among the topics considered. Natural strategies are outlined in the contexts of Turkey, Brazil and United Arab Emirates. The second part of the book is concerned with disasters from specific natural causes starting with a group of ten articles on floods. The corresponding contributions address flood frequency, vulnerability and resilience of communities, response of small and medium enterprises, risk in terms of financial losses, private investment participation to mitigation measures, assessment of design solutions against flood hazard, sleeper dykes as a means of reducing risk, preparedness of hospitals, causes of highway flooding and their relative importance, and impact of floods on poor communities. The third set of articles are related to earthquake-related hazards describing, in particular, an analysis tool providing integrated risk, coping capacity and management output, a method for assessing vulnerability considering key contributing factors, a technique for urban aftershock management and damage assessment, and neural network modelling to estimate tsunami damage. Finally, a group of three articles address issues related to landslides, namely, slope management as a means of reducing risk and losses, early warning based on rainfall data, and hazard prediction using favourability function modelling and spatial target mapping software. Providing a unique global perspective this volume focuses on recent developments over a wide range of topics that cannot be found in similar, currently available, publications in this field. This is a valuable addition to the relevant literature available to researchers and engineers working on risk assessment and mitigation of natural disaster intensity and consequences. It will appeal of those working in academic and research environments as well as governmental, professional, national and international organisations.

This textbook provides a thorough introduction to natural disaster risk management. Many aspects of disaster risk management, such as those involved in earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods, avalanches and mudslides call for similar prevention and preparedness instruments, management concepts, and countermeasures. This textbook assumes the viewpoint of a regional disaster risk manager who is responsible for a certain area, and for making the lives of the people who live there safer, regardless of the type of natural disaster that may occur. The same holds true for boosting preparedness and awareness in the population at risk. The book includes numerous examples of hazard mitigation concepts and techniques, as well as ways of intensively involving the local population in prevention schemes at an early stage. Furthermore, it provides an in-depth examination of the function of risk communication, both as an instrument for disseminating official information and as a function of public media. In closing, a chapter on risk splitting offers insights into insurance-based models for risk financing. This comprehensive book is a must-read for all students, researchers and practitioners dealing with natural disaster risk management.

Climate change is increasingly of great concern to the world community. The earth has witnessed the buildup of greenhouse gases (GHG) in the atmosphere, changes in biodiversity, and more occurrences of natural disasters. Recently, scientists have begun to shift their emphasis away from curbing carbon dioxide emission to adapting to carbon dioxide emission. The increase in natural disasters around the world is unprecedented in earth's history and these disasters are often associated to climate changes. Many nations along the coastal lines are threatened by massive floods and tsunamis. Earthquakes are increasing in intensity and erosion and droughts are problems in many parts of the developing countries. This book is therefore to investigate ways to prepare and effectively manage these disasters and possibly reduce their impacts. The focus is on mitigation strategies and policies that will help to reduce the impacts of natural disasters. The book takes an in-depth look at climate change and its association to socio-economic development and cultures especially in vulnerable communities; and investigates how communities can develop resilience to disasters. A balanced and a multiple perspective approach to manage the risks associated with natural disasters is offered by engaging authors from the entire globe to proffer solutions.

Initial priorities for U.S. participation in the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction, declared by the United Nations, are contained in this volume. It focuses on seven issues: hazard and risk assessment; awareness and education; mitigation; preparedness for emergency response; recovery and reconstruction; prediction and warning; learning from disasters; and U.S. participation internationally. The committee presents its philosophy of calls for broad public and private participation to reduce the toll of disasters.

The Centre for Science and Technology of the Non-Aligned and Other Developing Countries (NAMS&T Centre) has brought out a publication entitled Management of Natural Disaster in Developing Countries based on the proceedings of the International Workshop on the above subject held in Asian institute of Technology (AIT), Bangkok, Thailand, 24-27 January, 2000. Natural hazards are naturally occurring processes forming an experience to human being, depending on where one lives. Floods, volcanoes, tornadoes, bushfires and hurricanes are the possible threats, which affect the environment and thus our lives. To find out the outcome of the problem, it requires exploring the reason of its origin and the possible antidotes so that it can dwindle to some extent. Planning, managing and implementing environmentally sound strategies are the supreme measures in this concern. Also, organizing a series of workshops/trainings on Management of Natural Disaster could be an aid in consecutive steps. Hence, the above workshop was organised and the proceedings of the workshop have been arranged in a sequential manner. The volume contents mainly aim at identifying areas of mitigating flood, cyclone and storm surge disaster. The Status Reports from well know experts from different countries namely, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mauritius, Nepal, Pakistan, Syria, Thailand and Viethnam are also included in this Volume. Contents Chapter 1: Mitigating Cyclone and Storm Surge Disasters by Jamilur R Choudhury; Chapter 2: Management of Natural Disasters by Aminul Kawser Khan; Chapter 3: S&T Initiatives for Natural Hazard Mitigation by K R Gupta and R K Midha; Chapter 4: Improved Understanding About Indian Earthquake Hazard by G D Gupta & H N Srivastava; Chapter 5: R&D for Cyclone Disaster Mitigation by T V S R Appa Rao; Chapter 6: Natural Disaster and its Mitigation by Wisyanto; Chapter 7: The ESCAP-IDNDR Regional Survey on Assessment of Achievements during the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (DNDR) by Le Huu Ti; Chapter 8: Overview of Experiences and Responses to Recent Disasters by Cengiz Ertuna; Chapter 9: Accomplishments, Current Activities and Future Requirements for Disaster Reduction by Kamal Bin Hussain; Chapter 10: Management of Natural Disasters by Veersing Boodhna; Chapter 11: Management of Natural Disasters by Krishna Prasad Paraujuli; Chapter 12: Forecasting, Early Warning and Reporting Procedure in Case of Disasters by Muhammad Munir Sheikh; Chapter 13: Manageable Procedures to Encounter the Natural Disasters by Abdul Qader Melhem; Chapter 14: Channel Changes Using Satellite Data for Flood Mitigation, Watershed Degradation the Flood Plain Monitoring by Lal Samnarakoon, Kiyoshi Honda and Akichika Ishibashi; Chapter 15: Cyclone Disasters due to Heavy Rainfall by Suphat Vongvisessomjai; Chapter 16: Cyclone Disasters due to Strong Wind and Surge by Suphat Vongvisessomjai; Chapter 17: Mitigation of Typhoons and Flood by Daong Quang San.

Disaster health is an emerging field that focuses on developing prevention, preparation, response and recovery systems for dealing with health problems that result from a disaster. As disasters worldwide differ in their nature, scope and cultural context, a thorough understanding of the fundamental tenets of sound disaster health management is essential for both students and practitioners to participate confidently and effectively in the field. Disaster Health Management is the first comprehensive textbook to provide a standard guide to terminology and management systems across the entire spectrum of disaster health. Authored by experienced educators, researchers and practitioners in disaster health management, this textbook provides an authoritative overview of: The conceptual basis for disaster management Systems and structures for disaster management Managing disasters through the continuum of preparedness, response and recovery The variations associated with both natural and technological disasters The strategic considerations associated with leadership, research, education and future directions. Using Australasian systems and structures as examples of generic principles which will find application globally, Disaster Health Management is an essential text for both undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as for professionals involved in all aspects of disaster management.

Information technology (IT) has the potential to play a critical role in managing natural and human-made disasters. Damage to communications infrastructure, along with other communications problems exacerbated the difficulties in carrying out response and recovery efforts following Hurricane Katrina. To assist government planning in this area, the Congress, in the E-government Act of 2002, directed the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to request the NRC to conduct a study on the application of IT to disaster management. This report characterizes disaster management providing a framework for considering the range and nature of information and communication needs; presents a vision of the potential for IT to improve disaster management; provides an analysis of structural, organizational, and other non-technical barriers to the acquisition, adoption, and effective use of IT in disaster; and offers an outline of a research program aimed at strengthening IT-enabled capabilities for disaster management.

Why does government sometimes do a superlative job handling natural disaster situations while at other times, as in the case of Hurricane Katrina, it performs extremely poorly? Updated with examples through 2010, this classic study examines the disruptive effects of disasters on patterns of human behavior and the routine operations of government, and the conditions under which even relatively minor crises can lead to system breakdown. Integrating case studies of emergency management with studies of collective behavior, the author identifies factors that contribute to successful government handling of disaster situations and distills insights that can be used to improve these capacities at all levels--federal, state, and local. The book includes numerous illustrations as well as expanded coverage of research on disaster management and greatly expanded reference lists.

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

This is the first concise introduction to emergency management, the emerging profession that deals with disasters from floods and earthquakes to terrorist attacks. Coverage includes: --The history of emergency management and its evolution from volunteer effort to trained intervention; --Organization of emergency management systems -- local, state, regional, national, international; governmental, for-profit, and nonprofit; --Managing natural disasters -- floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, wildfires, tornadoes, avalanches, etc.; --Managing manmade disasters -- civil defense, terrorism, hazardous materials accidents, fires, structural failures, nuclear accidents, transportation disasters; --Policy issues in the management of risk, emergencies, and disasters; --Disaster management in the Twenty-first Century-- technological and political challenges. 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.