On the Shelf at CCBC Libraries
There Is No Such Thing As a Natural Disaster by
There is No Such Thing as a Natural Disaster is the first comprehensive critical book on the catastrophic impact of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans. The disaster will go down on record as one of the worst in American history, not least because of the government's inept and cavalier response. But it is also a huge story for other reasons; the impact of the hurricane was uneven, and race and class were deeply implicated in the unevenness. Hartman and. Squires assemble two dozen critical scholars and activists who present a multifaceted portrait of the social implications of the disaster. The book covers the response to the disaster and the roles that race and class played, its impact on housing and redevelopment, the historical context of urban disasters in America and the future of economic development in the region. It offers strategic guidance for key actors - government agencies, financial institutions, neighbourhood organizations - in efforts to rebuild shattered communities.
Call Number: HV636 2005 .L8 T44 2006
Katrina's Imprint by
Katrina's Imprint highlights the power of this sentinel American event and its continuing reverberations in contemporary politics, culture, and public policy. Published on the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, the multidisciplinary volume reflects on how history, location, access to transportation, health care, and social position feed resilience, recovery, and prospects for the future of New Orleans and the Gulf region. Essays examine the intersecting vulnerabilities that gave rise to the disaster, explore the cultural and psychic legacies of the storm, reveal how the process of rebuilding and starting over replicates past vulnerabilities, and analyze Katrina's imprint alongside American's myths of self-sufficiency. A case study of new weaknesses that have emerged in our era, this book offers an argument for why we cannot wait for the next disaster before we apply the lessons that should be learned from Katrina.
Call Number: HV636 2005.N4 K38 2010
Online Resources
- Stéphane Hallegatte, From Poverty to Disaster and Back: a Review of the Literature
from Economics of Disasters and Climate Change (2020) 4:223–247
https://doi.org/10.1007/s41885-020-00060-5
Streaming Videos
- In the Shadow of KatrinaHurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast in 2005, and Louisiana’s troubled housing recovery has shaped the response to every major disaster since, including Hurricane Sandy.
- Haiti: Two Years LaterOn January 12, 2010, Haiti was struck by an earthquake that devastated Port-au-Prince and many other parts of the country. The result: over 220,000 dead and 300,000 injured. In the affected area, half of all homes collapsed or were severely damaged. Why did this earthquake take such a heavy toll, when its magnitude was actually lower than that of other major quakes around the world? Is it possible to rebuild this impoverished country so that residents are better protected from natural hazards in future? What are the scientific and technical challenges to reconstruction? A feature report on Haiti, two years after a disaster that ravaged the country and shocked the whole world.
Online Databases
- Academic Search Premier This link opens in a new window
Articles on any subject. This is a good place to start.
- Baltimore Sun This link opens in a new window
Baltimore's newspaper, which is good for local news and issues from 1990 - today.
For articles published 1837-1992, see ProQuest Historical Newspapers: Baltimore Sun. - Biological Science Database
Articles on biology topics.
- eBook Collection (EBSCOhost)
eBooks on every subject. You can use just a chapter on your topic.
- Environment Complete This link opens in a new window
Articles about ecology, energy, natural resources, science, technology, law, public policy, and social impacts.
- Opposing Viewpoints This link opens in a new window
Viewpoint essays, topic essays, and news and magazine articles on controversial issues. Browse for topics or search.
- Points of View Reference Center This link opens in a new window
Points of view essays, topic overviews, and news and magazine articles on controversial issues. Browse for topics or search.
Online from CCBC Libraries
Natural Disasters by
This book provides a detailed introduction to natural disasters and the ways in which they have had and continue to have, profound effects on human society. Natural Disasters: A Reference Handbook surveys the impact of these events on human civilization. The opening chapter provides a general history and background of the major types of natural disasters, including earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, severe storms, and forest fires. The information presented in this introduction allows the reader to better understand current issues, problems, and solutions related to natural disasters discussed in subsequent chapters. The book covers the role of natural disasters in human life from earliest recorded history (and, to some extent, even earlier) to the present day. It provides an extensive variety of resources that encourage readers to learn more about the topics discussed. The book is intended for readers in the late middle school to high school age range, as well as adults who may have a special interest in the subject. Provides readers with a sound background in the science and technology of major natural disasters, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and forest fires Traces the development of human understanding of the causes and nature of such events Discusses the ways in which natural events such as changing weather patterns may interact with human decisions and actions that lead to complex forms of disaster Provides background on the specific contributions of individuals and organizations within the field that have yielded our mature understanding of the nature and impact of natural disaster Suggests a host of practical resources to use in an extended study of the topic
Publication Date: 2019-06-14
How to Write an Emergency Plan by
The world is becoming more hazardous as natural and social processes combine to create complex situations of increased vulnerability and risk. There is increasing recognition that this trend is creating exigencies that must be dealt with. The common approach is to delegate the task of preparing an emergency plan to someone. Often that person is expected to get on with job but rarely is the means and instruction of how to write such a plan provided to them. There are a host of instances in which the letter of the law, not the spirit, is honoured by providing a token plan of little validity. David Alexander provides, in this book, the assistance needed to write an emergency plan. It is a practical 'how to' manual and guide aimed at managers in business, civil protection officers, civil security officials, civil defence commanders, neighbourhood leaders and disaster managers who have been tasked with writing, reviewing or preparing emergency plans for all kinds of emergency, disaster or catastrophe. He takes the reader through the process of writing an emergency plan, step by step, starting with the rationale and context, before moving on through the stages of writing and activating a basic, generic emergency plan and concludes with information on specific kinds of plan, for example, for hospitals and cultural heritage sites. This practical guide also provides a core for postgraduate training in emergency management and has been written in such a way that it is not tied to the legal constraints of any particular jurisdiction.
Publication Date: 2016-06-02
We're Still Here Ya Bastards by
The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina is one of the darkest chapters in American history. The storm caused unprecedented destruction, and a toxic combination of government neglect and socioeconomic inequality turned a crisis into a tragedy. But among the rubble, there is hope. We're Still Here Ya Bastards presents an extraordinary panoramic look at New Orleans's revival in the years following the hurricane. Award-winning journalist Roberta Brandes Gratz shares the stories of people who returned to their homes and have taken the rebuilding of their city into their own hands. She shows how the city -- from the Lower Ninth Ward to the storied French Quarter to Bayou Bienvenue -- is recovering despite flawed governmental policies that promote disaster capitalism rather than the public good. While tracing positive trends, Gratz also investigates the most fiercely debated issues and challenges facing the city: a violent and corrupt prison system, the tragic closing of Charity Hospital, the future of public education, and the rise of gentrification. By telling stories that are often ignored by the mainstream media, We're Still Here Ya Bastards shows the strength and resilience of a community that continues to work to rebuild New Orleans, and reveals what Katrina couldn't destroy: the vibrant culture, epic history, and unwavering pride of one of the greatest cities in America.
Publication Date: 2015-06-09
Natural Disaster and Nuclear Crisis in Japan by
The March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan plunged the country into a state of crisis. As the nation struggled to recover from a record breaking magnitude 9 earthquake and a tsunami that was as high as thirty-eight meters in some places, news trickled out that Fukushima had experienced meltdowns in three reactors. These tragic catastrophes claimed some 20,000 lives, initially displacing some 500,000 people and overwhelming Japan's formidable disaster preparedness. This book brings together the analysis and insights of a group of distinguished experts on Japan to examine what happened, how various institutions and actors responded and what lessons can be drawn from Japan's disaster. The contributors, many of whom experienced the disaster first hand, assess the wide-ranging repercussions of this catastrophe and how it is already reshaping Japanese culture, politics, energy policy, and urban planning.
Publication Date: 2012-04-05
Livelihoods and Economic Recovery in Crisis Situations by
Disasters and violent conflicts continue to claim lives and destroy livelihoods of far too many people around the world and undermine development achievements. This can both heighten social and economic insecurity, and endanger those already vulnerable in societies, including women and young people. This focus on the restoration of economic strength in the aftermath of a conflict or disaster fosters long-term peace and stability, creates resilience to future crises and sets in motion an equitable and sustainable process of development. UNDP approach to early stabilisation and inclusive growth embraces nationally-owned, crisis and gender-sensitive interventions that are responsive to market conditions and aligned with security, recovery, conflict prevention and development programming of other partners. To highlight some achievements in 2011, UNDP worked with partners to create over 5.2 million workdays of emergency jobs; provided support to over 101,000 crisis affected people, including ex-combatants and internally displaced people (of whom 40% were women) to establish micro, small and medium enterprises; and rehabilitated socioeconomic infrastructure for development to occur in places as diverse as Afghanistan, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Kenya, Myanmar, Nigeria, Nepal, Pakistan, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, South Sudan, Tajikistan and Uganda, helping to sustain livelihoods and revitalise economies in these crisis and conflict-affected countries.
Publication Date: 2013-08-31
