Natural Risk And Civil Protection

The media constantly remind us of the enormous potential for disaster arising from the action of natural and technological hazards. Planning for and managing these events poses a host of often very difficult problems. Such problems are addressed in this book, which provides a balanced range of theoretical and practical perspectives, with contributions from specially invited experts. The book is based on the proceedings of an international conference, organised by the European Commission and supported by the Directorate General XII, XI and JRC in 1993, and representing a contribution by the European Union to the UN International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNR). It combines a series of state-of-the-art surveys of natural hazard science with material on important recent developments in civil protection and emergency management, focusing on the practical management of risk. Natural Risk and Civil Protection provides an essential reference for natural scientists, social scientists and consultants in the field of hazard and risk management, national and local government administrators and planners, insurers and emergency management agency personnel.

This book forms the Proceedings of the International Conference organised by the Commission of European Communities and held in Belgirate, Italy, in October 1993. The first part covers earthquakes, volcanoes, storms, floods, landslides and wildfires. The second part deals with key themes in civil protection: risk communication, planning, organisation and crisis management. A detailed Rapporteur-General's report is also included. Future developments regarding information sources and research and development conclude the book.