The Foreign Service Journal, October 2011

30 F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L / O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 feel the effects of these more acutely than children. Both physically and psychologically, children are far more vulnerable than adults and suf- fer disproportionately in disaster zones, yet emergency planners have by and large failed to address their special needs. Managing Children in Disasters begins by listing these needs and identifying the infra- structure necessary to support children’s physical security, emotional stability, family unity and education. It then out- lines the many steps that parents, emergency planners, school officials and other care providers can take to miti- gate the effects of potential disasters on that supporting infrastructure. Using a cross-disciplinary approach and in consultation with Federal Emergency Management Agency profes- sionals, the authors analyze the design of evacuation plans, emergency shelters and rebuilding processes from the standpoint of ensuring that children receive care com- mensurate with their particular vulnerabilities. The book includes examples of existing programs, reports, sample plans and guides that offer instruction for families, agen- cies and communities in all phases of emergency manage- ment, from preparation to recovery. Damon P. Coppola, the husband of career FSO Mary Gardner-Coppola, is an emergency management systems engineer who has worked on planning, management and policy projects with FEMA, the World Bank, the United Nations and the National Disaster Preparedness Training Center. Introduction to International Disaster Management, 2nd edition Damon P. Coppola, Butterworth-Heinemann, 2011, $79.95, hardcover, 696 pages. The possibility of sudden and unexpected catastrophe being an inescapable fact of human existence, individuals and societies alike have made many attempts to minimize their vulnerability and develop mechanisms to address the initial impact and plan for recovery. The principles behind these measures — the preservation of life, property and the environment — are the same worldwide, but the ca- pacity to implement successful disaster management varies widely among countries. Despite the best efforts of national administrations, dis- astrous events can overwhelm local capabilities, necessi- tating intervention by a full range of international organi- zations and agencies. This definitive text addresses the for- midable task of coordinating such efforts. Updated to reflect the latest data in global disaster trends, this second edition offers a comprehensive over- view of the complex issues surrounding preparedness, re- sponse and relief during international disasters. It will be a useful reference for students, practitioners and anyone interested in international humanitarian response and re- covery. Introduction to Emergency Management, 4th edition Damon P. Coppola, George D. Haddow and Jane A. Bullock; Butterworth-Heinemann, 2011, $59.95, hardcover, 424 pages. Emergency management as a profession and an academic discipline has never been more relevant than it is today. In Introduction to Emer- gency Management , Coppola and his co-authors aim both to provide the reader with a working knowledge of how the functions of emergency management operate and to document the current status of the discipline. As the authors state in the introduction, the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, set in motion a series of changes in the way governments at all levels, as well as businesses, non- governmental organizations and the general public, ap- proach the possibility of disaster — in concert with or independent of official agencies. The popular opinion that ad hoc reactions would prove ineffective was confirmed by the inept response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, which prompted extensive rethinking among risk assessment and emergency management practitioners. Drawing heavily on recent case studies, this book ex- amines emergency management as practiced in the United States at the federal level and by state and local agencies. The most recent disasters are covered, and up-to-date in- formation on the role of emergency management agencies under the Obama administration is provided. C OVER S TORY