Disaster Policy and Politics combines evidence-based research with mini-case studies of recent events to demonstrate the fundamental principles of emergency management and to explore the impact that disasters have had on U.S. policy. Paying special attention to the role of key actors—decision makers at the federal, state, and local levels; scientists; engineers; civil and military personnel; and first responders—author Richard Sylves explores how researchers contribute to and engage in disaster policy development and management. The highly anticipated Third Edition explores the radical change in policy and politics after the occurrence of recent disasters such as hurricanes Irma, Maria, and Harvey; Hawaii′s false nuclear attack warning; and responses to U.S. wildfires. The book’s comprehensive "all-hazards" approach introduces students to the important public policy, organizational management, and leadership issues they may need as future practitioners and leaders in the field.

Table of Contents:
Preface About the Author CHAPTER 1: Disaster Management in the United States The Montecito Debris Flow Disaster The Fundamentals Emergency Management as a Profession Disasters as a Field of Scientific Research Presidential Disaster Declarations Fundamental Challenges of Emergency Management Phases of Emergency Management Summary Key Terms CHAPTER 2: Theories and Approaches of Public Policy and Management Helpful in Disaster Studies Normative Political Theories The Role of Theory in Emergency Management Theory in Disaster Recovery Knowledge Codification and Knowledge Diffusion Issues Big Data Analytics and Emergency Management Summary Key Terms CHAPTER 3: A Short History of U.S. Disaster Policy The Cold War and the Rise of Civil Defense Nationwide Emergency Management The Birth of the Federal Emergency Management Agency Disaster Declaration Issues Disaster Law, Policy, and Public Relations from Reagan to Clinton All-Hazards Management The 9/11 Attack Remakes U.S. Disaster Management Summary Key Terms CHAPTER 4: Presidential Declarations of Major Disaster or Emergency The U.S. Constitution and Emergency Powers of the President The "Policies" and Laws That Established Presidential Disaster Declarations The “Process” Followed in Requesting Presidential Declarations The President′s "Power" to Decide The Significance of Post-9/11 Changes The "Politics" of Presidential Declarations "Paying" for Presidential Disaster Declarations Summary Key Terms CHAPTER 5: The Role of Research, Science, and Engineering Researching Hazards and Disasters Disaster Researchers Compete for Government Funding Social Sciences and Emergency Management Science Informs the Policy and Politics of Disasters Public Infrastructure Policy Summary Key Terms CHAPTER 6: Intergovernmental Relations in Disaster Policy Organization of the Chapter Intergovernmental Program Management The Frameworks and the National Incident Management System Intergovernmental Disaster Management Challenges Government Contractors and Disaster Management Summary Key Terms CHAPTER 7: Civil-Military Relations and National Security Civil Defense to Homeland Security The Military′s Role in Disaster Response and Recovery Efforts The Military, Homeland Security, and Disaster Policy The National Guard, the U.S. Armed Forces, and Posse Comitatus Homeland Security Supplements National Security State Homeland Security Grants Operation Stonegarden Homeland Security Grants and Their Effects at the Local Level The Emergency Management Performance Grant Program Replacement of the USA Patriot Act of 2001 The Homeland Security Advisory System Summary Key Terms CHAPTER 8: Globalization of Disasters The U.S. Response System for Territories and Foreign States Emergency Management in Other Nations The United Nations and International Disaster Relief U.S. Domestic Disaster Relief versus the U.S. International Relief System FEMA versus OFDA A Case Study: Borderline Disaster: U.S. and Canadian Disasters and Emergencies 1994–2013 The U.S. System of Federal Emergency Management Canadian Government System of Federal Emergency Management U.S. FEMA Bilateral U.S.–Canada Emergency Management Agreements in Brief Explaining Appendix 8-1 U.S.–Canada Case Conclusions Summary Key Terms CHAPTER 9: Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria: U.S. Disaster Management Challenged Impact and Declarations: Hurricane Harvey Impact and Declarations: Hurricane Irma Impact and Declarations: Hurricane Maria Immediate and Short-Term Response Recovery Problems Comparisons Lessons Learned Summary Key Terms CHAPTER 10: Conclusions and the Future What Has Happened to Federal Emergency Management? For-Profit Contractors, Slapp Lawsuits, Whistleblowing, and Science Integrity The Hawaii Nuclear Attack Alert SNAFU and Its Implications Chapter Takeaways Key Terms Glossary Notes Master Bibliography Index