Disaster Hits Home: New Policy for Urban Housing RecoveryWhenever a major earthquake strikes or a hurricane unleashes its fury, the devastating results fill our television screens and newspapers. Mary C. Comerio is interested in what happens in the weeks and months after such disasters, particularly in the recovery of damaged housing. Through case studies of six recent urban disasters—Hurricane Hugo in South Carolina, Hurricane Andrew in Florida, the Loma Prieta and Northridge earthquakes in California, as well as earthquakes in Mexico City and Kobe, Japan—Comerio demonstrates that several fundamental factors have changed in contemporary urban disasters. The foremost change is in scale, and as more Americans move to the two coasts, future losses will continue to be formidable because of increased development in these high-hazard areas. Moreover, the visibility of disasters in the news media will assure that response efforts remain highly politicized. And finally, the federal government is now expected to be on the scene with personnel, programs, and financial assistance even as private insurance companies are withdrawing disaster coverage from homeowners in earthquake- and hurricane-prone regions. Demonstrating ways that existing recovery systems are inadequate, Comerio proposes a rethinking of what recovery means, a comprehensive revision of the government's role, and more equitable programs for construction financing. She offers new criteria for a housing recovery policy as well as real financial incentives for preparedness, for limiting damage before disasters occur, and for providing a climate where private insurance can work. Her careful analysis makes this book important reading for policymakers, property owners, and anyone involved in disaster mitigation. Whenever a major earthquake strikes or a hurricane unleashes its fury, the devastating results fill our television screens and newspapers. Mary C. Comerio is interested in what happens in the weeks and months after such disasters, particularly in t |
Contents
Measuring Housing Loss and Recovery in Recent American Di | |
Fire and Earthquake Damage San Francisco 1906 32 | |
Reconstruction in Homestead 92 | |
Typical Home with New Roof South of Miami 93 | |
Collapse of Northridge Meadows Apartment Building 97 | |
House Pulled Apart by Landslide 97 | |
Typical Carport Collapse San Fernando Valley 98 | |
Partial Collapse Multifamily Structure with Soft First Story 99 | |
Damaged Garden Apartments 102 | |
Northridge Stucco Failure in Collapsed Multifamily Building 102 | |
Damage to HighRise Residential Building Mexico City 1985 33 | |
Repairs Under Way after Loma Prieta Earthquake 41 | |
Damaged Multifamily Structure Los Angeles 41 | |
Beach House Garden City South Carolina 48 | |
Sea Cabin Condominiums Isle of Palms 49 | |
Beach House Folly Beach 53 | |
Wild Dunes Condominiums 53 | |
House Damaged by Flying Debris 58 | |
Typical Minor Roof Damage 58 | |
Aerial View of Cypress Freeway Collapse 63 | |
Home Repair Watsonville 77 | |
Aerial View of Country Walk Area of South Dade County 84 | |
Children Playing on Makeshift Swings amid Debris 87 | |
Aerial View of Damage to Manufactured Homes 87 | |
Waterfront Condominiums with Roof and Window Damage 88 | |
WindDamaged Home with I SURVIVED ANDREW on Roof 89 | |
Repairs to Multifamily Building with Soft First Story 112 | |
Foundation Repair to SingleFamily House 112 | |
Missouri River Flooding in Communities West of St Louis 1993 115 | |
Single House Remaining after 1991 Oakland Hills Fire 117 | |
Evaluating American Disaster | |
Housing Damage in the Armenian Earthquake 1988 123 | |
Reconstruction of Housing in Armenia 123 | |
Typical Pancake Collapse of Concrete Building 129 | |
Damaged Tile Roofs 145 | |
Nagata Ward after Fire 146 | |
Temporary Housing in Office Building Parking Lot 149 | |
Catastrophe Index When Is a Natural Disaster a Housing Crisis? | |
Rethinking Urban Disaster Recovery Policy | |
References | |
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