American hazardscapes : the regionalization of hazards and disasters / Susan L. Cutter, editor.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Cutter, Susan L., editor.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Natural disasters--United States.

Natural disasters.

Disasters--United States.

Disasters.

Environmental risk assessment--United States.

Environmental risk assessment.

Emergency management--United States.

Emergency management.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (227 pages, 2 unnumbered pages of plates) : illustrations (some color), maps

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Washington, District of Columbia : Joseph Henry Press, 2001.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Barrier islands. Flood plains. Earthquake faults. Sometimes the environment poses threats to our well being, yet many of us continue to choose to live in risky or dangerous places. And on top of the oeknowns are the other, more hidden hazards related to environmental contamination that pose equally serious threats to our health and well being. But where are these places and what types of hazards are found there? American Hazardscapes examines the risks associated with living and owning property in diverse regions across the United States, offering dual perspectives: that of the geographer and that of the social science hazards researcher. The book summarizes what we already know about regional patterns of hazard events and losses during the previous three decades and goes further to shed light on the nature of the events themselves and their impact on society. Written for the relocating citizen and the policy maker alike, American Hazardscapes presents a regional ecology of disaster-prone or disaster-resistant states. It also offers thoughts on what local, state, and federal managers need to do to meet the challenge of reducing hazard losses in the next century.

Contents:

Machine generated contents note: CHAPTER 1 THE CHANGING NATURE OF RISKS AND HAZARDS by Susan L. Cutter Hazard, Risk, and Disaster, 2 Evolving Theories and Concepts, 4 Mutual Interests, Divergent Paths, 9 Moving from Theory to Practice, 11 Conclusion, 12 CHAPTER 2 METHODS FOR DETERMINING DISASTER PRONENESS 13 by Arleen A. Hill and Susan L. Cutter Vulnerability and the Potential for Loss, 13 Methods of Assessment, 16 Conclusion, 35 CHAPTER 3 MAPPING AND THE SPATIAL ANALYSIS OF HAZARDSCAPES 37 by Michael E. Hodgson and Susan L. Cutter Informational Needs and Inputs, 37 Improvements in Data Coverage and Accuracy, 42 The Science and Art of Mapping, 46 Spatial Analysis and the GIS, 50 Distributing Geographic Information, 54 A Word of Caution About Hazards Mapping, 59 CHAPTER 4 DATA, DATA EVERYWHERE, BUT CAN WE REALLY USE THEM? 61 by Deborah S. K. Thomas Need for Systematic Primary Data Collection, 62 Centralized Data and Information Dissemination, 63 Why Data May Not Be Meaningful, Even If Collected, 64 Issues of Data Sharing, 66 Available Databases for Estimating Loss, 67 Conclusion, 76 CHAPTER 5 TRENDS IN DISASTER LOSSES 77 by Jerry T. Mitchell and Deborah S. K. Thomas Building the Hazard Events and Losses Database, 78 Historical Losses from Hazards, 79 Trends in Specific Hazards, 84 Conclusion, 112 CHAPTER 6 WHICH ARE THE MOST HAZARDOUS STATES? 115 By Deborah S. K. Thomas and Jerry T. Mitchell Geographic Scale and Loss Information, 116 Losses from All Hazard Types, 116 Spatial Variation in Hazard Events and Losses, 119 Regional Ecology of Damaging Events, 146 Conclusion, 153 CHAPTER 7 CHARTING A COURSE FOR THE NEXT TWO DECADES 157 By Susan L. Cutter Taking Stock, 157 Vulnerability Science, 159 National Database on Hazard Events and Losses, 160 National Loss Inventory/Natural Hazard Events Data Clearinghouse, 162 The Whole Is Greater Than the Sum of the Parts, 163 REFERENCES 167 APPENDIXES A Selected Hazard Assessment Models 183 B Top States in Events and Losses by Individual Hazard 191.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9786610210114

9780309170789

0309170788

9781280210112

1280210117

9780309512145

030951214X

OCLC:

52806870