Governmental Responses to Natural Disasters in the U.s. ― A Documentary History

Rarely does a month go by without news reports of a major natural catastrophe in the United States and in the rest of the world. Whether faced with Hurricane Irma's and Maria's devastation in Puerto Rico in 2017, Hurricane Katrina, 9/11, wild fires, earthquakes, volcanoes, or global warming, citizens often judge leaders by their effectiveness in preparing for and responding to such disasters. Through the use of carefully-edited original sources beginning with Biblical and classical times and continuing through contemporary American history, this book places these disasters in context. It includes readings from congressional laws, presidential addresses and orders, and judicial decisions as well as relevant charters from disaster relief agencies. The editor provides a general introduction to the topic and a timeline and prefaces each reading with an introduction. Published by Talbot Publishing, an imprint of the Lawbook Exchange, Ltd.

JOHN R. VILE (Ph.D., UVA) is Dean of the Honors College at Middle Tennessee State University. He is the author of American Immigration and Citizenship: A Documentary History (2016) and numerous books on the United States Constitution.