Disaster Policy and Politics: Emergency Management and Homeland Security

In the Second Edition of Disaster Policy and Politics, author Richard Sylves provides much-needed contemporary coverage of the fields of disaster management and homeland security interspersed with mini-case studies of events such as the Tuscaloosa tornado; the Boston Marathon bombing; Superstorm Sandy; the Boulder, Colorado floods of 2013; Japan’s quake-tsunami and ensuing Fukushima nuclear disaster; as well as Hurricane Katrina and 9/11. Paying special attention to the role of key actors―decision makers at the federal, state, and local levels; scientists; engineers; civil and military personnel; officials; and first responders―the author explores how physical and social science researchers contribute to and engage in disaster policy development and management. The book’s comprehensive "all-hazards" approach introduces students to the important public policy, organizational management, and leadership issues they may need as future practitioners and leaders in the field. The text provides a concise history of the field, presents useful theories and concepts, poses thought-provoking questions, and is crafted to be both instructor- and student-friendly. This new edition also has an added chapter on disaster victim compensation schemes guaranteed to draw animated responses from readers.

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Richard Sylves is professor of political science at the University of Delaware. He has served on a National Academy of Science, National Research Council panel, and he has done funded and unfunded research for FEMA. He served three years as an appointed member of the National Academy of Science Disaster Roundtable. His books include The Nuclear Oracles; Disaster Management in the United States and Canada: Politics, Policy, Administration, Study and Instruction of Emergency Management; Cities and Disaster: North American Studies in Emergency Management (with William Waugh); and Homeland Security and Emergency Management: A Public Budgeting Perspective.