This two-volume encyclopedia provides the science behind such heart-pumping geophysical hazards as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, cyclones, and floods, as well as authoritative entries on notable natural disasters around the world and the agencies that help those they impact. Natural Hazards and Disasters explores the sometimes harsh effects of nature on human life. The set discusses the physical science behind specific types of hazards and disasters (such as blizzards and tsunamis), their impact on our lives, how damage is mitigated or prevented, recovery and reconstruction, and the current research and technology used for managing or even eliminating the hazards. Written by experts in the field, the set also explores a variety of extreme events from around the world, including the 2010–2011 Christchurch Earthquakes (New Zealand), the 2017–2018 Thomas Fire (United States), and the 2018 Kerala Floods (India). Also covered are the world's major international and nonprofit aid agencies, like the Salvation Army and Oxfam, that assist disaster victims.

Table of Contents:
VOLUME 1 Guide to Related Topics Preface Introduction Natural Hazards Avalanches Blizzards Climate Change Coastal Erosion Desertification Droughts Earthquakes Erosion Expansive Soils Extinction Floods Hail Hurricanes Ice Storms Landslides Lightning Salinization Storm Surges Subsidence Temperature Extremes Tornadoes Tsunamis Volcanic Activity Waterspouts Wildfires Aid Organizations ActionAid International American Red Cross Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Concern Worldwide Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere Doctors Without Borders International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) International Organization for Migration (IOM) Islamic Relief Worldwide Lutheran World Federation Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Oxfam International Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Refugees International Save the Children United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) World Food Program (WFP) World Health Organization (WHO) World Vision International (WVI) VOLUME 2 Guide to Related Topics Natural Disasters Bam Earthquake, Iran, 2003 Bangladesh Flood, 1998 Bengal Famine, 1943–1944 Bhola Cyclone, Bangladesh, 1970 Big Thompson Canyon Flash Flood, Colorado, 1976 Black Saturday Bushfires, Australia, 2009 BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, United States, 2010 Brisbane and Queensland Flood, Australia, 2011 Buffalo Blizzard, New York, 1977 California Drought, 2012–2016 Chicago Heat Wave, Illinois, 1995 Chi-Chi Earthquake, Taiwan, 1999 Christchurch Earthquake, New Zealand, 2010–2011 Colombia Floods, 2010–2011 Colorado Flood, United States, 2013 Cyclone Gorky, Bangladesh, 1991 Cyclone Nargis, Myanmar, 2008 Cyclone Pam, Vanuatu, 2015 Cyclone Phailin, India, 2013 Cyclone Sidr, Bangladesh, 2007 The Dust Bowl, 1930s East African Drought, 2011–2012 Edmonton Tornado, Canada, 1987 European Heat Wave, 2003 Eyjafjallajökull Eruption, Iceland, 2010 Grand Forks Flood, North Dakota, 1997 Great Ice Storm of 1998, Canada Great Kanto Earthquake, Japan, 1923 Great Mississippi River Flood, United States, 1993 Gujarat Earthquake, India, 2001 Haiti Earthquake, 2010 Heat Wave and Wildfires, Russia and Eastern Europe, 2010 Hurricane Andrew, United States and the Bahamas, 1992 Hurricane Charley, United States, 2004 Hurricane Galveston, United States, 1900 Hurricane Harvey, Texas and Louisiana, 2017 Hurricane Ike, United States, 2008 Hurricane Irma, Florida, 2017 Hurricane Katrina, United States, 2005 Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico, 2017 Hurricane Matthew, United States, 2016 Hurricane Mitch, Central America, 1998 Hurricane Stan, Guatemala, 2005 Indian Ocean Tsunami, 2004 Iowa Flood, United States, 2008 Izmit/Marmara Earthquake, Turkey, 1999 Johnstown Flood, Pennsylvania, 1889 Joplin Tornado, Missouri, 2011 Kashmir Earthquake, Pakistan, 2005 Kerala Floods, India, 2018 Kobe Earthquake, Japan, 1995 Loma Prieta Earthquake, California, 1989 Mexico City Earthquakes, Mexico, 1985 Millennium Drought, Australia, 2001–2012 Mozambique Flood, 2000 Nepal Earthquakes, 2015 Pakistan Flood, 2010 Sichuan Earthquake, China, 2008 Sulawesi Earthquake and Tsunami, Indonesia, 2018 Summer Floods, United Kingdom, 2007 Superstorm Sandy, United States, 2012 Tangshan Earthquake, China, 1976 Thomas Fire, California, 2017–2018 Tohoku Earthquake and Fukushima Tsunami, Japan, 2011 Tri-State Tornado, United States, 1925 Tropical Storm and Floods, Yemen, 2008 Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda), Philippines, 2013 Valdivia Earthquake, Chile, 1960 Vietnam Flood, 1999 Yangtze River Flood, China, 1931 Bibliography About the Editor and Contributors Index