Vulnerability of Cities: Natural Disasters and Social Resilience FROM THE PUBLISHER
"This book demonstrates that strengthening local capacity - through appropriate housing, disaster-preparedness, infrastructure and livelihoods - is crucial to improving civic resilience to disasters. Equally important are strong partnerships between local community-based organizations, external non-governmental and governmental organizations, public and private sectors and between city and national government. The author highlights and discusses these best practices for handling urban disasters." With rapid urbanization across the globe, this book is a must-read for professionals, policy-makers, students and researchers in disaster management, urban development and planning, transport planning, architecture, social studies and earth sciences.
SYNOPSIS
* What makes some cities less vulnerable and more resilient in the face of natural disasters?
* Examines the factors involved and draws invaluable lessons from case studies and analysis
* Major contribution to urban studies, social development and disaster management When disaster strikes in cities the effects can be far worse than in other human environments. But which factors determine how vulnerable a city is to such events, and how resilient it will be in recovering from them? Focusing on cities in the global South, this book examines the conditions that lead to high losses from urban disasters and the factors that enable some households and communities to withstand disaster more effectively. Through a range of detailed studies, it shows that strengthening local capacity - through appropriate housing, infrastructure and livelihoods - is crucial to improving resilience, and that effective community or municipal government is essential if cities are to cope with disasters successfully. This book marks a significant advance in our understanding of what works and what doesn't when cities are faced with extreme conditions, and how this can be applied when dealing with other events and stresses.
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