ABSTRACT
Over the last decade, the frequency of occurrence of natural disasters has significantly increased. The intensity of impact of these disasters seems to vary globally. Disaster management programs and initiatives ideally attempt to increase the efficiency, effectiveness, and coordination and collaboration of public responses to natural disasters. These responses include both public emergency alerts that occur before the disaster and emergency relief as well as rebuilding efforts after the disaster. In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina left 1,836 people dead, hundreds missing and 80% of New Orleans flooded. The damage estimates ran to $100 billion. In February 2009 more than 400 bush-fires blazed across Victoria, Australia, following unimaginably hot (almost 120 degrees fahrenheit in some places), dry and windy weather conditions. Although unequal in scale, the events had a similar impact given the relative population size of each country. In both countries this led to public examination of the role of government in preparing for and responding to disasters. This chapter will therefore examine the role of government in managing these disasters in terms of aid, rebuilding, relocation, and redevelopment.
