Based on years of research, this book scientifically evaluates human responses in the face of disasters in ways that that can inform emergency response teams and teach them how to anticipate human response. It includes four original short stories that introduce readers to the human side of disaster.

About the Author

University of Denver, Colorado, USA

Table of Contents

Experiences The Taxi The Earring The Honeymoon The Ceiling The Insights The Problem and Approach The Danger around You Is Increasing The Many Faces of Disaster The Approach The Insights Hear That Siren? Who Panics and Why Neutralizing Threat Information Doing It Right But Not Everyone Responds the Same The Insights It Can't Be Done That Lady Named Carla A Disaster Subculture? The Mythology of Car Wrecks "Resisters? We'll Arrest Them!" Confirmation: A Likely Action Families Are the Units The Insights Shall We Leave? Pathways to Evacuation Where Do They Go? "We Wanna Go Home" Evacuation Facilitators An Aside: Crisis Relocation Planning and Homeland Security Advisory System The Insights Why Me? Victim Responses The Disaster Syndrome: Another Myth Exploded Heroes: They Are for Real Helpers: How Many Are There? "Where Is My Daughter?" But There Are Constraints The Insights Volunteers? You Bet! The Flood Breakers Are Volunteers Like Yachts? The Utopian Mood Unveiling the Many Forms of Volunteerism The Insights Organized-Disorganization Raining in Indianapolis "But We Deal with Emergencies Daily" Sorting Out Organizational Responders Is Communication the Problem? Social Map: Lake Pomona Communication Structure Cooperation Is Not Enough The Insights Life in a Fishbowl The Bitch Phase Looting Fears Bad Dreams Short-Term Oscillations Windows of Opportunity "When Can We Go Home?" The Insights What about My Psyche? An Atypical Example Modal Patterns Patterned Variations Kinfolk and Friends "This Is My Mother" The Insights What Must Be Done? Variable Perceptions of Risk Disasters Are Nonroutine Social Problems Professionalism in Emergency Management Strategies for Maintaining Organizational Integrity Disaster Response Coordination Strategies Concluding Principles Notes Suggested Readings Index