At risk : natural hazards, people's vulnerability, and disasters

Wisner, Ben. (Added Author).

Summary: The term 'natural disaster' is often used to refer to natural events such as earthquakes, hurricanes or floods. However, the phrase 'natural disaster' suggests an uncritical acceptance of a deeply engrained ideological and cultural myth. At Risk questions this myth and argues that extreme natural events are not disasters until a vulnerable group of people is exposed. The new edition of At Risk confronts a further ten years of ever more expensive and deadly disasters since it was first published and discusses disaster not as an aberration, but as a signal failure of mainstream 'development'. Two analytical models are provided as tools for understanding vulnerability. One links remote and distant 'root causes' to 'unsafe conditions' in a 'progression of vulnerability'. The other uses the concepts of 'access' and 'livelihood' to understand why some households are more vulnerable than others. The book then concludes with strategies to create a safer world.

Record details

ISBN: 9780415252164
ISBN: 9780415252157
ISBN: 0415252164
ISBN: 0415252156
ISBN: 9780415252164
ISBN: 0415252164
ISBN: 9780415252157
ISBN: 0415252156
ISBN: 0203714776
ISBN: 9780203714775
ISBN: 9786610109616
ISBN: 6610109613
ISBN: 1134528604
ISBN: 9781134528608
ISBN: 9780203428764
ISBN: 0203428765
Physical Description: 1 online resource (xix, 471 pages) : illustrations, maps
remote
Edition: 2nd ed.
Publisher: London ; New York : Routledge, ©2004.

Content descriptions

Bibliography, etc. Note:	Includes bibliographical references (pages 377-446) and index.
Formatted Contents Note:	The challenge of disasters and our approach -- The disaster pressure and release model -- Access to resources and coping in adversity -- Famine and natural hazards --Biological hazards -- Floods -- Coastal storms -- Earthquakes and volcanoes -- Towards a safer environment.
Restrictions on Access Note:	Access restricted to authorized users and institutions.
Source of Description Note:	Print version record.