Population and disaster

This book is concerned with epidemics, famines, wars, hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis and tornadoes and their effects on the populations they afflict. Twenty-two leading demographers and geographers from all over the world present detailed case-studies and general articles-all published here for the first time on the causes, immediate impact and ultimate effects of population catastrophes. The book focuses on the twentieth century, particularly the last thirty years.
The authors examine the demographic consequences of such crises, in terms, for example, of their effect on morbidity, mortality, fertility and migration as well as their impact on social, economic and political structures. They are also concerned to assess the extent of human settlement in potentially hazardous areas (and to consider why people, even when aware of the likelihood of disaster, continue to occupy them) and to identify the range of human adjustments to extreme events. They examine the ways in which people perceive and react to disasters, and consider the adjustments and choices they make to minimize the magnitude of disaster impact, as well as the effectiveness of official relief action upon the lives of victims.
Population and Disaster covers virtually every region of the world, developed, developing, capitalist and socialist, and with reference to both short-term and long-term consequences of disasters. It will be of considerable interest to students and scholars of the dynamics of population change as well as to planners and policy makers.