Handbook of Disaster Research

This second edition of the Handbook reflects some of the foundational topics for disaster studies; current substantive, methodological or theoretical topics of interest; as well as new and emerging topics in the field. While highlighting some of the iconic themes of the 1st Edition, including what is a disaster; morbidity and mortality associated with disasters; gender and disasters; and race, class, ethnicity, and disasters, the 2nd Edition also brings to the forefront new and emerging research themes in the field of disaster studies, including climate change; children and disasters; technological and natech disasters; as well as the news media and disasters, among others. The 2nd Edition of the Handbook will continue to inform the field of disaster studies for years to come; it will expand our knowledge in this important field of inquiry, but will also generate new questions and research ideas; will continue to positively impact the growth, development, and  expansion of thisfield and our growing community; and will continue to raise awareness regarding the onset and impact of these events in societies throughout the world, and, in turn, will have significant and positive impacts on disaster mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery.

“"This book constitutes an important contribution to the field of disaster studies and is especially valuable for scholars, researchers, and those designing curricula in the field of emergency and disaster management ... . It represents a critical addition for academic libraries and disaster collections with articles that will be heavily sought by students of disaster studies and would also make an excellent classroom textbook for students across a range of disciples and in the field of emergency management." (Laura Olson, recoverydiva.com, June, 2018)”

“This book constitutes an important contribution to the field of disaster studies and is especially valuable for scholars, researchers, and those designing curricula in the field of emergency and disaster management … . It represents a critical addition for academic libraries and disaster collections with articles that will be heavily sought by students of disaster studies and would also make an excellent classroom textbook for students across a range of disciples and in the field of emergency management.” (Laura Olson, recoverydiva.com, June, 2018)

Havidán Rodríguez is the President of the University at Albany of the State University of New York (SUNY). However, most of his work for this Handbook took place in his previous role as Founding Provost & Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, and a tenured professor in the Department of Sociology & Anthropology, at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. He also served as director of the Disaster Research Center (DRC) at the University of Delaware. He was the principal investigator for the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Program: Training the Next Generation of Disaster Researchers, funded by NSF. Dr. Rodríguez is the co-editor (with Quarantelli and Dynes) of the Handbook of Disaster Research (2006). 

Joseph E. Trainor is an Associate Professor of Public Policy and Administration at the University of Delaware (UD). He is the current director of the UD Disaster Science and Management Degree Programs and is a Core Faculty memberat the Disaster Research Center (DRC).

William Donner is Associate Professor of Sociology and Disaster Studies M.A. Director at the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley.  Research interests include hazard warnings, epidemiology, demography, and statistical applications in disaster research.

This second edition of the Handbook reflects some of the foundational topics for disaster studies; current substantive, methodological or theoretical topics of interest; as well as new and emerging topics in the field. While highlighting some of the iconic themes of the 1st Edition, including what is a disaster; morbidity and mortality associated with disasters; gender and disasters; and race, class, ethnicity, and disasters, the 2nd Edition also brings to the forefront new and emerging research themes in the field of disaster studies, including climate chan≥ children and disasters; technological and natech disasters; as well as the news media and disasters, among others. The 2nd Edition of the Handbook will continue to inform the field of disaster studies for years to come; it will expand our knowledge in this important field of inquiry, but will also generate new questions and research ideas; will continue to positively impact the growth, development, and expansion of this field and our growing community; and will continue to raise awareness regarding the onset and impact of these events in societies throughout the world, and, in turn, will have significant and positive impacts on disaster mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery.

Recent disasters, such as the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, bomb explosions in London, Hurricane Katrina, the Pakistan Earthquake, floods in Central America, and landslides in Indonesia, among many others, have resulted in an extensive loss of life, social disruption, significant economic impacts to local and national economies, and have made headline news in countries throughout the world. Thus the Handbook of Disaster Research is a timely and much needed contribution to the field of disasters. The editors of this Handbook have brought together a comprehensive and interdisciplinary volume with a diverse and international group of contributors. The Handbook is based on the principle that disasters are social constructions and focuses on social science disaster research. Attention is given to conceptual issues dealing with the concept "disaster" and to methodological issues relating to research on disasters, including Geographic Information Systems as a useful research tool and its implications for future research; how disaster research is increasingly being used in the emergency management curriculum; and how research is useful in dealing with emergency operations. The Handbook also includes a number of essays focusing on various types of vulnerabilities. In addition, there are discussions on community processes that are evoked by disasters, including warnings, search and rescue, coordination, and organizational adaptation, as well as, dealing with death and injury, and recovery, and the role of the media in disasters; special attention is given to emergency systems in several nation states. The Handbook also includes contributions focusing on the relationship between disaster and development, the popular culture of disasters, new dimensions of disaster research, as well as projections of disasters into the future. Disasters allow the opportunity for social scientists to study human behavior in which adaptation, resilience and innovation are often more clearly revealed than in "normal" and stable times. The Handbook of Disaster Research provides an interdisciplinary and international approach to disasters with theoretical, methodological, and practical applications.

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