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309 Annals Am. Acad. Pol. & Soc. Sci. viii (1957)

handle is hein.cow/anamacp0309 and id is 1 raw text is: FOREWORD During the past decade we have seemed to be more afraid of what man will do with nature than of what nature will do with man, and this changed emphasis has helped obscure the fact that during the last decade as many major natural disasters have occurred in this country as in the preceding four decades. Nevertheless, in recent years the human and economic consequences of major disasters and of the several hundred lesser disasters that occur here annually have increasingly come to be recognized as a matter of vital national concern. The possible impact of natural disasters on readiness for war has influenced thinking, as has the hope that meas- ures of prevention, preparedness, prediction, and relief incident to natural disaster might be organized and co-ordinated in a way that would contribute significantly to an essential preparedness for enemy attack. The intent of this volume of THE ANNALS on natural disasters and disaster re- lief is to increase understanding and sharpen thinking by bringing together for the first time a broad review of the physical characteristics and the human and physi- cal consequences of natural disaster; the nature and scope of the truly far-reach- ing, complex, but well-co-ordinated efforts of government in preparation and avoid- ance, recovery and restoration; and the widespread but specific and detailed volun- tary preparedness, relief, and rehabilitation measures; together with one or two examples out of recent experience in applying the plans and measures to acute major disaster situations. Although many of the articles were written by those directly involved in ad- ministrative or other professional capacities, it is certain that if any objectivity was sacrificed it has been more than compensated for by the intimate knowledge and concern of those contributing. Each author is of course entirely responsible for his general treatment of the subject and for the facts and points of view presented. Some common threads appear repeatedly throughout the studies and analyses: What basic principles can be identified, delineated, and observed? How does the actual disaster hazard as revealed through experience over the years compare with the existing theoretical potentiality? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the current practice of equating natural disasters with situations created by enemy attack, and what are the specific similarities and differences? Recognizing how far-reaching, carefully co-ordinated, and meticulously detailed present planning is, what are the principal aspects that require further and continuing realistic study and practical action? To me the most impressive single fact about this volume is that it shows the ex- tent to which thought and action are being directed at many levels, by many agen- cies and persons, and in a wide variety of ways to minimizing the human suffering and material loss that are the inescapable aftermath of natural disaster. DEWITT SMITH Viii

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