Introduction to Emergency Management

by George D. Haddow, Jane Bullock, Damon P. Coppola

Introduction to Emergency Management, Fourth Edition, offers a practical guide to the discipline of emergency management. It focuses on the domestic emergency management system of the United States, highlighting the lessons and emerging trends that are applicable to emergency management systems in other parts of the world. The book begins by tracing the historical development of emergency management from the 1800s to the present world of homeland security. It then discusses the hazards faced by emergency management and the methods of assessing hazard risk; the function of mitigation and the strategies and programs emergency management or other disciplines use to reduce the impact of disasters; and emergency management preparedness. The book also covers the importance of communication in the emergency management of the twenty-first century; the functions and processes of disaster response; government and voluntary programs aimed at helping people and communities rebuild in the aftermath of a disaster; and international emergency management. It also addresses the impact of September 11, 2001 on traditional perceptions of emergency management; and emergency management in the post-9/11, post-Katrina environment. * Expanded coverage of risk management* Enhanced coverage of disaster communications, including social networking sites like Twitter* More material on mitigation of disasters* Up-to-date information on the role of FEMA in the Obama administration

Genres: Nonfiction, School

424 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Christopher Saul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Comprehensive guide to how emergency management works in the United States. It also explains why EM is the way it is in the US.

Great book for a survey class for a Public Admin post-bac who works in local government.

[Steven Peterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a decent introduction to the field of emergency management as of about 2005. This volume is pitched at a level for newcomers to the subject. One problem: Its positive evaluation of the current American system looks silly when one adds Hurricane Katrina (the book was published before the hurricane struck). Obviously, the system was not in the state described in this volume.

Nonetheless, this is a nice work. It begins with a general introduction, including a history of emergency management in the US. The second chapter makes a critical point--the importance of an all hazards approach. Emergency management is not just about responding to terrorists--it is also about response to national disasters. The chapter does a fine job at emphasizing this.

Then, subsequent chapters consider the key issues of mitigation, response, recovery, and preparedness. We can try to reduce the odds of disasters and their consequences--but we must also plan on how to respond if such events actually occur. There follow chapters on communication, international disaster management, responding to the new terrorist threat, and the future of emergency management.

This book is quite useful for those who want an introductory analysis to the subject. As such, it performs pretty well, despite its overly optimistic view of the state of the system, at the time the book was published (recall the miserable performance of FEMA with Hurricane Katrina).

[Haileyjett]

For a textbook, this is actually a great read. Anyone looking into homeland security and emergency managment and needing an introduction to it - this is by far one of the best reads my professors have picked!

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

While easy to read, I rarely cracked the spine of this book for my Master's level class. It was a little too simplified for use as anything other than an introduction to terms. Perhaps it is better used as a Bachelor's level intro book.

[Hans · Rating 3 out of 5]

Textbooks are generally good for what they are designed for and not much more. They help give some structure to a subject that otherwise would remain a choatic mix of ideas.

[Christina]

still reading

[John Purdy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative.

[Robert · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read everything except appendix. Wish I hadn't. The entire book can be summed up in one word: Bureaucracy. That is all. Read for DSEM class. The parts about terrorism were interesting.