Earthquakes come without warning. They leave behind a trail of destruction and devastation that can unsettle large communities of people for years to come. Grappling with the after-effects of such calamities many lessons have been learnt that need implementation so as to minimise the scale of damage that has been witnessed in India, most prominently after the Bhuj earthquake of 2001. Based on experiences from the last two decades this volume addresses many crucial questions regarding disaster management. The focus of the articles is wide-ranging, from the organisation of immediate post-disaster relief and rehabilitation to future construction in earthquake-prone areas, as well as retrofitting existing structures, creating public awareness and setting up permanent structures and processes for disaster management. The volume also lays due emphasis on medical preparedness and acknowledging the trauma and psychological impact that disasters of such magnitude can have on the survivors, and insuring oneself - hearth and home - against disasters. More significantly perhaps it argues for better training in crisis management and risk mitigation at the local level, making pre-existing, local community groups as the first responders in a quake-hit zone, and suggests that post-disaster reconstruction can offer an society the unique opportunity of rebuilding it self such a way that the people are empowered by being involved in the decision-making process, that they are able to truly benefit from the recovery and reconstruction programmes they have helped design. Written by specialists with years of experience in various aspects of earthquake response, recovery and impact mitigation, this book is crucial reading for all associated policy makers, planners, architects and engineers, disaster and risk management specialists, medical and mental health professionals, community workers, actuaries, as well as students and scholars of development studies, economics and sociology.

It will be of interest to lay persons looking to secure themselves against such disasters. Book jacket.