Abstract
Abstract Natural disasters such as earthquakes, tropical cyclones, floods, and volcanic eruptions have claimed approximately 3 million lives worldwide during the past 20 years, have adversely affected the lives of at least 800 million more people, and have caused more than $50 billion in property damage(], 2) (Tables 1-1 and 1-2). Worldwide, a major disaster occurs almost daily, and natural disasters that require international assistance for affected populations occur weekly (3 ). Unfortunately, the threats posed by disasters will likely be even worse in the future. Increasing population densities in floodplains, along vulnerable coastal areas, and near dangerous faults in the earth’s crust; the development and transportation of thousands of toxic and hazardous materials; and rapid industrialization in developing countries all point to the probability of future catastrophic disasters with the potential for millions of casualties (4, 5) (Fig. 1-1). Indeed, our planet will experience many natural hazards during the next decade:
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