| Contents Notes |
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 "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 "knowns" 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." -- Publisher's description. |
