ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book is organized according to the stage of a natural disaster recovery process that they most emphasize. It focuses on community based rather than government led responses; the remaining cases, however, bring the critical role of government to the fore. The book describes the reaction of two Ghanaian communities to a repeated natural hazard: recurrent floods. It compares responses to two natural disasters: to the 2011 Fukushima nuclear meltdown caused by an earthquake-tsunami combination and the 2012 Hurricane Sandy. The book concentrates on recovery efforts in the aftermath of the Kobe, Japan and Bam City, Iran earthquakes of 1995 and 2003. It discusses the Christchurch reconstruction choices made in the wake of the 2010 New Zealand earthquake. The book describes clashes between two contradictory recovery strategies: one promoting shrinkage and the other, growth. It discusses post-disaster resilience in the context of tourism.
