Lexington Books Disasters in Paradise: Natural Hazards, Social Vulnerability, and Development Decisions

In Disasters in Paradise, Amanda D. Concha-Holmes and Anthony Oliver-Smith present a collection of ethnographic case studies that examine the social and environmental effects of Floridas public and private sector development policies. Contributors explore how these practices have increased the vulnerability of Floridians to natural disasters. Review In this edited volume, Amanda D. Concha-Holmes and Anthony Oliver-Smith document the confounding elements of weather, climate, and a market-driven society as they wreak havoc on the sunshine state's complex ecosystems. It is a must-read for anyone interested in Florida or any of America's other 49 states. What it portends affects us all.--Steve Kroll-Smith, University of North Carolina, Greensboro This fascinating and compelling set of case studies documents the relationship between development policies and disasters. The accessible and lucid style of Disasters in Paradise will appeal to readers from a wide range of interests and expertise.--Linda Whiteford, University of South Florida This book fills a vital gap in our understanding of natural hazards and the socially constructed concept of disaster. By drawing on a number of weather and climate influenced events of modest size, the authors adroitly describe how societies have altered the environment at our peril, providing a set of powerful cases that should serve as a wake-up call for other communities and states that have valued development above all else and can only attempt to recover from the predictable disasters that result. In an era of climate change, the lessons drawn from this book are increasingly prescient, requiring meaningful policy change in spite of the difficulties of doing so, recognizing that the status quo is unsustainable and will ultimately destroy the very characteristics of the places we call paradise.--Gavin Smith, North Carolina State University About the Author Amanda D. Concha-Holmes is cofounder and codirector of the Institute for the Study of Somatic Communication. Anthony Oliver –Smith is professor emeritus of anthropology at the University of Florida.