Beyond the news headlines, disasters have prompted the restructuring of the US government, namely the formation of the Department of Homeland Security and the reorganization of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This title explores the issue of natural and human-made disasters and the nation's response to them.

Capsule biographies, a large annotated bibliography, a chronology of significant events, organization and agency listings, and a glossary also provide invaluable information for students, teachers, librarians, activists, policymakers, and general readers interested in exploring the controversy surrounding this issue.