Natural Disasters and Local Resiliency

As natural disasters increase in number, strength, and frequency in the United States and around the world, local government managers must confront the reality that their community may be the next to experience a natural disaster. Natural Disasters and Local Resiliency examines how natural disasters affect local government operations and budgets in the immediate and long-term and what lessons local managers can draw as they attempt to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from such disruptive events. The book contains interviews of local managers and presents in their own words the action strategies that they consider to be most effective for disaster preparedness, response and recovery given their own experiences managing different types of weather-related natural disasters. These frontline managers also share their insights regarding resiliency to biological natural disasters, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. This book can also serve as a valuable resource for practitioners at the local level who are leading and manage government services and programs.

Komla D. Dzigbede is associate professor and chair of the department of public administration and policy at Binghamton University, State University of New York.

Sarah Beth Gehlis executive director for the Southern Economic Advancement Project (SEAP), an initiative aimed at broadening economic power and building a more equitable future. Katherine Willoughby is Golembiewski Professor of Public Administration in the School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia.

Katherine Willoughby is Golembiewski Professor of Public Administration in the School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia.