Disaster vulnerability is rapidly increasing on a global scale, particularly for those populations which are the historical clients of the social work profession. These populations include the very young and very old, the poor, ethnic and racial minorities, and those with physical or mental disabilities.  Social workers are increasingly providing services in disasters during response and recovery periods, and are using community interventions to reduce disaster vulnerability. There is a need for a cogent theory of vulnerability and research that addresses improved community disaster practice and community resilience. Community Disaster Vulnerability and Resilience provides a unifying theoretical framework backed by research which can be translated into knowledge for effective practice in disasters. ? 

Large-scale disasters--Hurricane Katrina, the 2004 tsunami, the BP oil spill--are enduring reminders of the fragility of our natural resources, our built environment, and our human communities. Particularly apparent is how much longer recovery takes for some survivors than others--and that some never recover at all.

Community Disaster Vulnerability offers a deeply nuanced understanding of how disasters affect at-risk populations such as the poor and the elderly, beginning with factors that contribute to disaster risk. Its focus on the complex layers of disruption caused by disasters links research findings across disciplines and levels of intervention. Concepts and models are included that systematically explain the sociopolitical aspects of disasters and identify relevant interventions for bolstering community resilience, providing social support, and distributing post-disaster resources. These practical applications of the theory propose methods of proactive planning for and responses to natural, manmade, or hybrid crises. This far-reaching volume: 

• Introduces a general framework for disaster vulnerability theory.
• Explains social development and resilience perspectives as they relate to vulnerability theory.
• Illustrates the use of geographic methods in describing the locations, depth, and extent of disaster vulnerability.
• Examines cross-sectional research designs and linear statistical models in community disaster vulnerability research.
• Applies a system dynamics simulation model to disaster policy and planning.
• Features a detailed model of vulnerability and resilience factors in disasters.

Skillfully blending analysis, empathy, and practicality, Community Disaster Vulnerability will advance the work of human service personnel, emergency managers, and professionals in social work education and research.

From the reviews:

"The small book ? summarizes how social scientists conceptualize, research, and approach such matters. ? helpful to social workers or other professionals on the ground, with the possible exception of those who design plans for emergency response to disasters, who may find it useful as an introduction to research approaches. This may also be a useful book for those who want to enter the field of disaster research and are looking for a compact overview and an introduction to the vocabulary of the area." (Julian Rappaport, PsycCRITIQUES, Vol. 58 (47), December, 2013)