ABSTRACT
The driving force for this book has been the embarrassment of ignorance. We do not know — even as professionals working on earthquake-related issues, we are not always fully aware of — the complex issues that arise when responding to earthquakes. We hope this book will dispel some of that ignorance, not least among professionals, be they administrators or technocrats. Greater awareness of related issues, regardless of whether or not it directly impacts their work, can only help improve its quality.
