ABSTRACT
Disaster and its consequences have long been the focus of historical attention, particularly in urban settings. This chapter considers the term disaster to encompass emergency, disaster, and catastrophe. Disasters range widely from the natural to human-caused and the latter group may even include the unintended effects of rapid, large-scale redevelopment. The complexity of disasters and responses has generated a rich academic literature. The post-disaster response is often characterized as either an opportunity for change or an impediment to transformation. While response is a useful term, resilience is increasingly used in this context, reflecting the fact that the vast majority of places affected by disaster do recover. Re-planning is usually taken as the immediate task of planning after disaster. Although it appears that many of these terms are used uncritically and virtually interchangeably, rebuilding and reconstruction cover the physical response. The chapter presents principally a planning history drawing from many disciplines.
