Physical and Environmental Geography | Open Access Articles

Progress Made With Early Warning Systems In Australia Since 2005, Neil Dufty

Neil Dufty

No abstract provided.

Disaster Law And Policy, Daniel Farber, Jim Chen, Robert Verchick, Lisa Grow Sun

Daniel A Farber

A unique and timely text in a burgeoning field, the Third Edition of Disaster Law and Policy takes a broad perspective that looks at the legal and political effects of disasters across the United States and around the world. Authors Daniel A. Farber, James Ming Chen, Robert R.M. Verchick, and Lisa Grow Sun examine the roles of lawyers and government in disaster prevention, emergency response, victim compensation, insurance, and rebuilding strategies. Materials include government reports, legal decisions, and readings drawn from a variety of disciplines. Memorable case studies and table-top exercises are added to help students evaluate and apply what …

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Unnatural Disasters: Rethinking The Distinction Between Natural And Man-Made Catastrophe, Michael D. Cooper, Esq.

Michael D. Cooper, Esq.

The distinction between “natural” and “man-made” disaster has grown increasingly difficult to defend. Our current conception conflates extreme natural events with the notion of disaster—an exclusively human construct. We define our cultural perception of “natural” disaster through three “man-made” constructs. First, our values alone characterize the scope and scale of loss. Second, our volition exacerbates otherwise benign natural hazards, exposes us to otherwise avoidable hazards, and, through technology, generates new and otherwise non-existent hazards. Finally, when natural hazards do unleash their destructive powers, pre-existing socio-economic inequalities manifest as vulnerabilities that ultimately determine both absolute and relative social outcomes and impacts. …