The Human Side of Disaster

Drabek (emeritus sociology and criminology, U. of Denver) taught courses on community and human responses to disasters for 40 years and never found a suitable textbook. Here he compiles ideas from his classroom lectures and conference presentations over the years for the benefit not only of students and instructors, but also emergency managers, first responders, disaster volunteers, government officials, and interested citizens. Among his perspectives are the many faces of disaster, neutralizing threat information, the mythology of car wrecks, pathways to evacuation, victim responses, the flood breakers, sorting out organizational responders, windows of opportunity, modal patterns, and professionalism in emergency management. Annotation 穢2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)