ABSTRACT
Natural hazards are increasing in frequency and leading to greater numbers of deaths and higher levels of damages. Hundreds of thousands of people have died and millions of dollars of damages are sustained from earthquakes, hurricanes, and other forms of hazard events. A disaster can reduce the government's ability to monitor potential threats and, therefore, repression is often the first response to perceived internal or external political challenges. Disasters are politically and socially constructed events. Government policies distribute resources to citizens that can determine the consequences of a natural hazard. Resources matter for the economic, social, and political capacities that individuals and groups possess to withstand and recover from a hazard event. Ex-ante public actions can minimize disaster-related grievances that can instigate public displays of discontent. Mitigation policies, for example, can significantly reduce the devastation produced by natural disasters. Disasters are often low probability and diffused events, benefiting the taxpayer and the non-taxpayer alike.
