Abstract
This paper explores many of the emotional issues the elderly encounter when faced with a natural disaster. The author addresses feelings of vulnerability and isolation that are particular to the senior population. The writer also discusses how problems the elderly already experiences, such as mental health issues and dementia, may be compounded by a natural disaster. A natural disaster may also bring out previous traumas from the senior's life. The author concludes that natural disasters can increase and exacerbate stress and anxiety in the elderly and possibly lead to serious psychological issues.

From the Paper
"Studies have also focused on the fact that the elderly experience certain identifiable and particular stress factors and vulnerabilities in the face of natural disasters. "We must acknowledge that certain vulnerabilities exist among many elders and that these vulnerabilities are likely to intensify at times of disaster and during the often lengthy recovery process" (Oriol W.) The realization of the vulnerability of older people to disaster is evidenced by the collaboration between Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) and The National Council on the Aging (NCOA), in bringing an important resource to communities to improve crisis counseling for the elderly. (Oriol W.) Therefore there is a growing body of research which mirrors the concern about the effects of emotional and psychological stress on the elderly in times of natural disaster."

Tags:elderly, senior, citizens, older, adults, disasters, trauma

Abstract
This paper discusses how the regulatory environment and regulatory policies influence the development and impacts of natural disasters within both the developing world and the developed world. As part of its discussion, the paper looks at how certain social groups within society and between societies (the homeless, ethnic minorities, women, and the poor) are vulnerable to disasters because of the political and regulatory environment they find themselves in. Specifically, those who should protect the less-fortunate or vulnerable often fail to do so because of avarice, poor communication, and an organizational unwillingness to share information with other stake-holders

From the Paper
"How the regulatory environment in general, and regulatory policies in particular, have influenced the development and impacts of natural disasters faced in both the developing and developed worlds This paper, as the aforementioned title indicates, discusses how the regulatory environment and regulatory policies influence the development and impacts of natural disasters within both the developing world and the developed world. As part of its discussion, the paper looks at how certain..."

Tags:disasters, developing, developed

Abstract
In this article, the writer examines the information available for helping children cope with natural disasters. The writer examines three Web sites to determine what information is available. The writer discusses children's anxieties and fears and strategies for coping.

From the Paper
"For this paper the Administration For Children and Families The Department of Health and Human Services (ACF) and Research and Training Center on Family Support and Children's Mental Health (RTC) Web cites were accessed to determine what information was available for helping children cope with natural disasters. The first cite provided more information for families. For example the Administration For Children and Families The Department of Health and Human Services provided information cites with specific information. Ready Kids provided information for kids regarding how to create ..."

Tags:children, families, FEMA, disasters, psychosocial

Abstract
The paper compares the natural disasters of New Orleans and South Africa in terms of survival statistics in relation to their effect on children in terms of symptomatic trauma, interventions and resources in rebuilding the urban places after the disaster. The paper examines both South Africa and New Orleans to analyze what could have been done to mitigate some of the damage inflicted in these two instances and further to envision what might be done in retrospect to strengthen the response of humanitarian efforts at times of natural disasters. The paper includes a map and tables.

Outline:
Objective
Introduction
Disaster Assessment of South Africa & New Orleans
Flooding Greatest Risk in South Africa and New Orleans
Findings of Risk Assessment
Disaster Mitigation Requires 'Spirit of the Law' Application
Summary and Conclusion

From the Paper
"Those most affected were individuals who lived in homes that were constructed poorly. Identification of areas and communities that were affected had no uniformity. The results show that some communities received relief while others did not. Relief agencies were not well represented insofar as informing these individuals of what relief they were entitled to with many failing to miss such relief funding as Social Security for water-damaged property replacement. The report states: "...In these communities, rain or flood-affected households managed their losses alone or, in the case of many farm-workers residing on farms, repaired their homes with the farmer's assistance."

Tags:humanitarian, relief, progress, environmental, management, disaster, prevention, rebuilding

Abstract
This study explains that natural as well as man-made disasters have the potential to impact life on earth; the best defenses against natural disasters, such as earthquakes, volcanoes, floods, hurricanes and storm, are public awareness and offering the public sufficient time for evacuation. The author points out that the world's developed countries consider insurance an essential aspect of their lives, but this dependency on insurance is not shared by citizens of developing countries who might not be able to avail themselves of this facility. The paper relates that, when compared to natural disasters, many of the man-made disasters could have been prevented; understanding the risks involved in any situation is the first step to developing a successful plan to manage the risks involved.

Table of Contents
Introduction
Statement of the Problem
Purpose of this Study
Importance of the Study
Scope of the Study
Rationale of the Study
Definition of Terms
Limitations of this Study
Overview of the Study
Literature Review
Natural Disasters and their Consequences
Man-Made Disaster and the Risks Associated
Life Expectancy and Risk Evaluation
Disaster Response Planning and Insurance Requirements
Methodology
Approach Used
Validity of the Study
Discussion
Summary and Conclusions

From the Paper
"Petroleum exploration, for example, has the ability to impact regions that are geographically very far apart. Environmental issues are becoming increasingly important for the petroleum industry, which has the potential to impact the global economy on a major scale. The three sharp spikes (early 70s, late 70s and 1991) in oil prices observed over time-period of this industry have indicated just how dependent the world economy is on petroleum products. It is easy to correlate these price increases to the recessions that occurred in the U.S. and many world economies during these times. Countries therefore, in addition to investing heavily in the scouring of new petroleum reserves, are also looking for new ways to optimize the processes in their refineries. Increasing storage capacities is a major concern and a potential endeavor. This implies that countries have to build refineries to process the crude oil, support tank farms to store the crude oil before it is processed. Lastly, they have to store the finished products as well as develop shipping and land transportation (rails and roadways) to transport the oil from the supply point to the demand point. Issues such as global warming, fresh water pollution and spills on the high seas are however, forcing countries to reevaluate their strategies when dealing with the environmental issues related to this industry."

Tags:natural, man-made, awareness, secondary, prevention

Abstract
In this article, the writer notes that disasters in modern society have traumatized a great many people. The writer explains that one of the great difficulties of such disasters is the recurrence of the severe, debilitating, and sustained condition known as post-traumatic stress disorder. The writer also points out that however grim the scenario is of studying the lives of the people who have suffered through traumatic events, such studies are extremely important because they allow us to gauge the effects of disasters and the effects of efforts to assist the victims of those disasters. The writer concludes that although it is a tragedy that children have their lives destroyed in events such as hurricanes, floods and the like, out of these disasters have come studies on post-traumatic stress disorder in children. It is a small ray of light in an otherwise dark experience.

From the Paper
"One of the prime problems with post-traumatic stress disorder is that it often manifests itself long after the actual event. While post-traumatic stress disorder is relatively common after major crises, it is hardly universal. Given the fact that resources for addressing severe cases of post-traumatic stress disorder are in short supply, particularly in the wake of a major disaster, it is critical to determine who has suffered major trauma and who has not. However, there have been remarkably few studies examining how to diagnose post-traumatic stress disorder among children. There are also several critical questions about post-traumatic stress disorder among children. Much is known about post-traumatic stress disorder in adults, but we do not know what factors carry over to children also."

Tags:victims, crisis, fears, trauma

Abstract
This paper discusses how Hurricane Katrina was a perfect example of what a natural disaster can do to an economy. It looks at how natural disasters affect production and consumption of an economy in several major ways and points out that one way natural disasters disrupt production and consumption is the loss of jobs and displacement of a work force. Another way natural disasters disrupt production and consumption in he economy is a rise in the prices of certain goods and services. The paper also contends that one positive result of a natural disaster is the increase in jobs in other sectors connected to reconstruction, the flow of money into the economy, and increased production in the end due to the modernization of structures.

Outline:
Introduction
Natural Disasters
The Loss of Jobs and Displacement of the Workforce
Short Term Rise in Employment and Influx of Money into the Economy
Increase in Production from Modernization of Infrastructure and Capital
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Moreover, natural disasters must occur in highly populated areas that are vulnerable to its forces in order to be considered a disaster. Thus, a wildfire or an earthquake in an unpopulated area would not be considering a disaster. Most of major U.S. cities are situated close to water sources such as oceans, rivers or, fault lines in the case of California. These areas are prone to natural disasters. As a result, their larger economies are at a high risk of being disrupted by a natural disaster and have a greater economic impact on the rest of the country."

Tags:Hurricane, Katrina

Abstract
This paper discusses the impact that disasters have on infrastructure in a networked world. It analyzes disasters that are technological such as the 2003 Blackout, intentional such as the September 11th terrorist attacks and natural such as Hurricane Katrina. The paper shows, through these disasters, how the networked nature of our critical infrastructure systems has made disaster planning and preparation that much more difficult.

From the Paper
"The critical infrastructures in the world, and in the U.S. in particular, have become increasingly dependent on one another. Disasters that singly affect one critical infrastructure will have cascading negative effects for all of the other interdependent infrastructures. In those cases in which energy infrastruc-tures are damaged from the outset, the impacts on the rest of the network of in-terdependent systems and infrastructures are especially dramatic. Without ac-cess to energy, recovery after any disaster is difficult and since all infrastruc-tures depend on energy inputs in one form or another, the collapse of an energy infrastructure can be especially devastating. Nonetheless, the important lesson to retain from these disasters discussed above is that all of our existing critical infrastructures are increasingly dependent on each other to operate and, as a re-sult, increasingly susceptible to collapse and damage as a result of seemingly unrelated disasters."

Tags:recovery, planning, devastation

Abstract
This paper attempts to understand how people respond to technological disasters as opposed to natural disasters such as hurricanes and earthquakes. It examines two specific instances of such a catastrophe, the Exxon Valdez wreck and the Chernobyl nuclear reactor meltdown. It evaluates the psychological aspect of the way in which people prepare for catastrophes since technological disasters are human created and we understand when faced with them that we are (at least as a species if not as individuals) responsible for their occurrence. It looks at how these two specific incidents were chosen because they were thoroughly witnessed and documented, allowing us to examine how individuals, communities and social institutions " including governments " have responded in the case of such accidents. It evaluates how both of these disasters were embedded in political, social and economic contexts and how they would not have occurred if the historical events leading up to them had been different.

From the Paper
"Susan Cutter, in her book Living with Risk, suggests that public response to technological hazards is often ambiguous, resulting in over-reaction, under-reaction, and often no reaction at all. People have learned to prepare for and how to respond to tornadoes (for example). They know where tornadoes may be expected to occur, during what time of the year, what kind of weather produces them, how they sound when they are approaching. People have learned what an individual can do to increase his or her chances of survival, including having access to an underground shelter and seek that shelter rapidly when bad weather threatens."

Tags:exxon, valdez, wreck, chernobyl, nuclear, reactor, catastrophes

Abstract
This paper examines human responses to natural disasters. Natural disasters were traditionally and common sense assumed to generate pathology. Recent research has indicated that, in fact, natural disasters inspire a range of individual responses from psychopathology to heroism.