Environmental Hazards and Disasters
Contexts, Perspectives and Management
By: Bimal Kanti Paul, Ph.D.
Published: January 11, 2012
Format: Paperback, 334 pages
ISBN-10: 0470660015
ISBN-13: 978-0470660010
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
"Research pertaining to the understanding of the human-environment synergism is a major emphasis of contemporary social science and other disciplines, including geography. In particular, global inquiry into human behavior in stressful situations such as natural hazards, has constituted a considerable portion of this research by scholars across disciplines", writes Professor of Geography at Kansas State University, Bimal Kanti Paul, Ph.D., in his comprehensive and multi-disciplinary book Environmental Hazards and Disasters: Contexts, Perspectives and Management. The author describes the interaction of hazards and disasters, and the human impact on them; as well as the vulnerability of people and societies in the face of a wide variety of natural events.
Bimal Kanti Paul recognizes that natural disasters and hazards have an effect on humans, but that people and society have both positive and negative impacts on the events as well. As a result, the author takes an inter-disciplinary approach to the subject matter that explains the interconnectedness of human activity and natural hazards and disasters. Bimal Kanti Paul approaches the topics through a combination of science, technology, economic, political, and social factors. The author provides a complete study of the management of the risk factors involved, the potential for mitigating that risk, the need for acceptance some risk, and for responding to the effects of disasters after they strike and cause their varying levels of devastation.
Bimal Kanti Paul (photo left) provides the scientific background to natural hazards and disasters, and distinguishes between the two concepts to enhance clarification. Along with the scientific and quantitative measurement of events and their aftermath, the author also considers the human element that either contributes to the level of disaster, or faces the destruction and damage that results from them. Bimal Kanti Paul points out that political and economic imperatives, including industrialization and urbanization contribute not only to the intensity of the events, but also cause increased loss of life and damage to property.
Bimal Kanti Paul covers all aspects of the field, through his multi-disciplinary approach, including the following:
* History and development of hazard studies in Geography
* Vulnerability, resiliency, and risk
* Disaster cycles: Mitigation and preparedness
* Disaster cycles: Response and recovery
* Disaster relief
* Hazards and disaster special topics
For me, the power of the book is how Bimal Kanti Paul combines many fields of study into a complete textbook on the topic of environmental hazards and disasters. The author does a fine job of placing the various types of disasters into a human and societal context, and the effects that each has upon the other. Indeed, the author makes a point of examining the overall human aspects of the events, of their causes, possible prevention, and of the actions taken when disaster happens on any scope or scale.
Bimal Kanti Paul understands that human activities can both increase the potential for disasters, and also work to reduce their impact and overall effects. The author also considers the importance of responses to disasters, and of relief of those affected by the tumultuous events, including the social and psychological impact felt by the people involved during and after the events take place. The extensive bibliography at the end of each chapter provides a tremendous resource for further study into the topics examined in each chapter as well.
I highly recommend the landmark and essential book Environmental Hazards and Disasters: Contexts, Perspectives and Management by Bimal Kanti Paul, Ph.D., to any undergraduate or graduates students in any of the related disciplines, business leaders, executives in risk management fields, emergency measures personnel, disaster relief agencies, and public policy makers seeking an authoritative and understandable book on both the human and physical aspects of environmental hazards and disasters. This book is an ideal introduction to the subject matter.
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