Sudden-impact disasters, such as earthquakes, flash floods, hurricanes and tornadoes can cause dramatic increases in homelessness and almost instantaneous mass demand for temporary as well as permanent shelter. Moreover, on average each year, 720 catastrophes occur, some 270 million people are affected and $100 billion of damage is caused. Frequently, major crises occur as a result of the sudden creation of situations of mass homelessness in the wake of catastrophe. Moreover, in the future, climate change is likely to intensify the physical impact of meteorological and hydrological disasters, while at the same time many of the areas at risk (including floodable coasts and river valleys, unstable slopes, tectonic fault lines) are experiencing rapid rates of population growth. Throughout the world there has been a tendency to migrate to coastal areas, which offer superior economic opportunities. Sea-level rise and intensifying tropical storms are bound to increase the level and frequency of destruction in coastal disasters. This book considers how communities, from the local to the national, manage the aftermath of natural disasters and conflicts.
