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
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 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 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.

Abstract
The paper examines the literature that reveals that reactions to natural disasters are, in general, severe, and in some cases even life-threatening. The paper identifies common reactions and examines the manner in which children in particular react to disasters. The paper notes that people who are already suffering from a preexisting mental disorder may experience some exacerbation of these conditions as well as developing the other symptoms typically associated with such experiences. Finally, the paper points out how the research was consistent in emphasizing the need for further studies concerning how people react to natural disasters.

Outline:
Introduction
Review and Discussion
Conclusion

From the Paper
"In fact, PTSD appears to be a more common reaction to natural disasters than previously believed, due in large part to the changing definitions and diagnostic criteria that have been applied to the disorder in recent decades. For example, researchers studied the impact of a natural disaster that occurred in 1972 in Buffalo Creek, West Virginia, when a dam collapsed and flooded the entire community with significant loss of life and property. Not surprisingly, almost everyone in the community suffered psychological consequences, with fully 90 percent of the survivors being symptomatic 2 years following the disaster and more than 33 percent continuing to suffer from disabling psychiatric symptoms even 5 years later (Myers and Wee)."

Tags:PTSD, resilience, mental, health, stress, depression, children

Abstract
This paper identifies and analyzes the 10 worst natural disasters of 2001. The first section of the paper identifies and ranks the ten worst natural disasters of 2001. The second portion of the paper presents a series of figures and tables.

Abstract
This paper argues that Christians, during the late medieval period and the proto-modern period before the advent of the Enlightenment, responded to disasters by seeking out scapegoats and attributing them to something they had done to incur the wrath of God. The paper points out that the determination to find scapegoats for pestilence or crop failure invariably led to the witch hunts that extended over a period encompassing roughly seven centuries, from about the thirteenth century until well into the nineteenth century. To better understand this phenomenon, the paper examines the eschatological assumptions of the age. The paper concludes that Christian eschatology had the effect, for many centuries, of convincing large numbers of Europeans that the return of the Almighty was near and that righteous Christians would fortify their souls by rooting out those who were heretical, unfaithful, and responsible for unnatural natural disasters.

From the Paper
"Between the thirteenth and nineteenth centuries, it is estimated that one million people in Europe were executed for witchcraft. Additionally, those witchcraft trials which have survived the passage of time appear to have frequently been conducted by ecclesiastical (Christian) courts. In the earliest trials, the institution of the Church took the lead role; by the end of the aforementioned period, it appears as though the Church was rarely, if ever, involved. In any case, whatever the amount of blame one wishes to affix to the European Christian Church, it would be inaccurate to suggest that only religious factors - however important - determined the actions of Europeans when confronted with a meteorological crisis they could not understand."

Tags:religion, superstition

Abstract
This paper discusses the ability of Turkish authorities to cope with natural disasters that occur in the region. It looks at how they reacted to the 1999 Marmara sea region earthquake and the 2000 flooding and discusses how these events challenged the power of the Turkish state to properly ensure the security of its population. The paper then looks at the areas Turkey must improve in order to prevent such massive loss of lives and damages from occurring again.

From the Paper
"Overall, taking into account the serious conditions facing Turkey in terms of natural disasters, it can be said that the authorities have acquired an important and useful experience from the past. The 1999 earthquake and the 2000 floods proved the devastation natural disasters can produce and their tragic impact on the human society. Therefore, in order to reduce to the minimum the impact natural disasters have on the human security in Turkey, more action and initiative must be taken in terms of a functional early warning system, as well as in the area of improving the conditions of rivers and their banks."

Tags:earthquake, flood, rescue, damages

Abstract
This paper describes several historical disasters in U.S. history and looks at what could have been done to protect the public from the harm done by these disasters. The paper points out that, while there is nothing that can be done to stop the environmental forces that cause such disasters, there are definitely measures humans can take to avoid them or, at the very least, protect themselves.

From the Paper
"The dam had originally been built some decades later to support a canal that provided transportation between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. The dam that caused the Johnstown flood suffered numerous leaks and at one partial collapse (in 1862) prior to its total failure in 1889. It was repaired and rebuilt several times. The dam was eventually abandoned as rail traffic supplanted the canal. Then in 1879, Benjamin Ruff realized that the dam could create an artificial lake around which a resort could be built. The first time the dam was rebuilt it was done so with shoddy materials and workmanship. Important parts had been removed and sold for scrap, so an important safety valve for releasing excess water was no longer present. The dam could not be satisfactorily repaired when it developed leaks. In addition a bridge was built in the spillway area, with metal screens to keep the fish stock from escaping, which added significant extra stresses."

Tags:rainfall, hurricanes, respond, dam, manmade, lake, johnstown, tennessee, floods