Flood Hazards and Health: Responding to Present and Future Risks / Edition 1

by Roger Few

Overview

Flood hazards and the risks they present to human health are an increasing concern across the globe, in terms of lives, well-being and livelihoods, and the public resources needed to plan for, and deal with, the health impacts. This book is the first detailed assessment and discussion of the global health implications of flooding and future flood risk. It combines an analysis of the human health impacts of flooding with analysis of individual and societal response to those risks, and sets these findings in light of potential future increases in flood hazard as a result of climate change. Written and edited by leading researchers and practitioners on flood hazards and human health, the volume brings together findings from epidemiological, environmental, social and institutional studies, with analysis rooted in an approach that emphasizes the developmental as well as environmental causes of flood risk, and the socially differentiated nature of vulnerability and coping capacity. The first part of the book sets out the scope of the issues, and provides a detailed discussion of the global health impacts of floods and the nature of human response to the health risks posed. The second part presents new research evidence on specific health aspects of floods covering mental health, infectious diseases, local level responses and the responses of health systems - drawing on case study material from Europe, Africa, Asia and North America, including the impact of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The conclusion synthesizes insights from the previous chapters and discusses priorities for policy, practice and research. It draws out implications for present and future adaptation to flooding, and emphasizes the need to integrate action on health with the broader agenda of long-term risk reduction. This is indispensable reading for professionals and researchers working on hazard and disaster planning, risk reduction and public health in all countries and contexts.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781844072163
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	08/20/2007
Edition description:	1
Pages:	232
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

Roger Few is Senior Research Fellow in the School of Development Studies, University of East Anglia, UK, an Affiliated Researcher of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, and an ESRC Research Fellow on climatic hazards, health risk and response in developing countries. Franziska Matthies is a Visiting Fellow at the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, an Assistant Professor at the Department for International Health at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, and Research Analyst for the German Advisory Council on Global Change to the Federal Government.

Table of Contents

Introduction * Flood Hazards, Vulnerability and Risk Reduction * The Health Impacts of Floods * Responses to the Health Risks from Flooding *The Mental Health Aspects of Floods: Evidence from England and Wales * The Mozambique Floods of 2000: Health Impact and Response * Coping with Floods in the Mekong Delta, Viet Nam * Flooding in the US: Responses from Government and the Medical and Public Health Sectors * Flood Hazards and Health: Implications for Action and Research *

Editorial Reviews

'The editors have compiled a very clear and interwoven set of papers in a collection that should be of interest to those who are involved in pre- and post-flooding planning and recovery....Overall, the book stimulates thought about how farreaching in space and time a flooding event can be.' EcoHealth 3, 209-211, 2006 'Flood, Hazards and Health presents thoughtful discussions about flooding events in the constructive context of how to best anticipate, recognize and respond to the expected short- and long-term health effects-It presents full version of papers previously available as abstracts only-A very clear and interwoven set of papers in a collection that should be of interest to those who are involved in pre- and post-flooding planning and recovery. Readers with academic interests in the social and policy aspects of flooding may find the research agenda useful. Members of relief organizations and government agencies may find the case studies instructive.' ECO-HEALTH 'The book is thoroughly researched, highly informative, well-written, and at the same time concise and easy to read. High recommended.' Choice

From the Publisher