1st Edition

Disaster Management Handbook

Edited By Jack Pinkowski Copyright 2008
    626 Pages 18 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    Record breaking hurricane seasons, tornados, tsunamis, earthquakes, and intentional acts of mass-casualty violence, give lie to the delusion that disasters are the anomaly and not the norm. Disaster management is rooted in the fundamental belief that we can protect ourselves. Even if we cannot control all the causes, we can prepare and respond. We can craft constructive, workable policy that will contribute to the prevention of enormous financial impact, destruction of the environment, and needless loss of life.
    Integrating scholarly articles from international experts and first hand accounts from the practitioner community, Disaster Management Handbook presents an analytical critique of the interrelated, multidisciplinary issues of preparedness, response, and recovery in anticipating and rebuilding from disasters. Beginning with an introduction to the theoretical constructs and conceptual foundations of disaster management, the book reviews the relationship of modern development to disaster vulnerability, the politics of disaster management, leadership, and the role of agency coordination. The second and third sections examine case studies and lessons learned through natural disasters in North America and around the world. They compare and contrast the efficacy of different management strategies from national, provincial, and local governments, as well as non-governmental agencies.
    Taking a narrower scope, the fourth section focuses on emergency personnel and the methods and issues faced in on-the-scene response and preparation. It also considers the special needs of hospitals and the effective use of the media. Contributions in the final two sections present strategies for limiting and ameliorating the psychological impact of disaster on victims and personnel, and look forward to how we can be better prepared in the future and rebuild stronger, more resilient communities.

    Introduction, theoretical constructs, and conceptual foundations
    Development and Disaster Preparedness: The Delusion of Preparedness in the Face of Overwhelming Forces, J. Pinkowski
    Rising Disasters and their Reversal: An Identification of Vulnerability and Ways to Reduce It, R. Misomali and D. McEntire
    The Politics of Disaster Management: The Evolution of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, M.R. Daniels
    Katrina and her Waves: Presidential Leadership, Intergovernmental Disaster Management, and Hurricane Response and Recovery, B. Gerber and D.B. Cohen
    The Role of Coordination in Disaster Management, R. Prizzia
    CASE STUDIES AND LESSONS LEARNED: U.S. NATURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTERS
    A Different Approach to Disaster Recovery: Alaskan Earthquake Disaster Recovery, D. Ink
    Hurricane Hugo: Two StatesResponses to the Disaster, N.S. Lind and P. Lafeber
    Hurricanes Katrina and Rita: The Critical Role of the Nonprofit Community in the San Antonio Disaster Response, S.A. Palomo-Gonzalez and D. Rahm
    Small Town Disaster Management: Lessons Learned from Katrina in Mississippi, J. Pinkowski and G. Bass
    Emergency Contracting for Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans Gulf Area, M.M. Dickens Johnson
    Debris Disposal and Recycling for the Cedar and Paradise Wildfires in San Diego, O. Debraal and  W.T. Williams
    CASE STUDIES AND LESSONS LEARNED: INTERNATIONAL DISASTERS
    Disaster in the United States and Canada: The Case of the Red River, D.R. Kemp
    Variability of Natural Hazard Risk in the European Alps: Evidence from Damage Potential Exposed to Snow Avalanches, S. Fuchs and M. Keiler
    Disaster Management Structure in Turkey: Away from a Reactive and Paternalistic Approach? N.E. Ganapati
    HIV/AIDS in Africa: Botswanas Response to the Pandemic, K.C. Sharma and T. Seleke
    Toward Disaster Resilient Communities: A New Approach for India, Africa, and South Asia, U. Medury
    FIRST RESPONSE AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
    National Incident Management System: Bringing Order to Chaos, B.J. Moeller
    Hospital Emergency Preparedness, N.V. Cagliuso, E.J. Lazar,
    A.N. Lazar, and L.J. Berger
    Media Relations and External Communications during a Disaster, M. Lee
    Responding to Natural Disasters: An Increased Military Response and Its Impact on Public Policy Administration, D.S. Miller, M. Pavelchak, R. Burnside, and J.D. Rivera
    Military Involvement in Disaster Response, J. Levinson
    HUMAN, PERSONAL, AND INTERPERSONAL ISSUES
    Disaster Management and Populations with Special Needs, S.J. Penner and C. Wachsmuth
    Disaster Psychology: A Dual Perspective, G. Coultman-Smith
    Managing the Spontaneous Volunteer, B.J. Gallant
    First Responders and Workforce Protection, P.J. Havice-Cover
    Disaster Rehabilitation: Towards a New Perspective, A. Dhameja
    The Half-Full Glass: How a Community Can Successfully Come Back Better and Stronger Post-Disaster, D.W. Sears and J.N. Reid
    PLANNING, PREVENTION, AND PREPAREDNESS
    The Role of Training in Disaster Management: The Case of Hawaii, R. Prizzia
    Disaster Management and Intergovernmental Relations, P. LaFeber and N.S. Lind
    Issues in Hospital Preparedness, R. Powers
    Strategic Planning for Emergency Managers, R. Sturgis Index

    Biography

    Jack Pinkowski