In the News: Hurricane Katrina September 8, 2005
Just over a week ago, Hurricane Katrina embedded itself in the memory of Americans as the most severe and devastating natural disaster in U.S. History. Amidst the chaos left in its path, one might ask "How do we recover from such destruction? How will New Orleans and all of the cities affected by this storm recuperate from such trauma?" Furthermore, "How does such an immense 'storm' happen? What conditions create a hurricane of this magnitude?" Two informative books from Oxford University Press have answers to some of these questions and many more. Consider reading the books below to learn more about what's being discussed in the news.
How Modern Cities Recover from Disaster
Edited by Lawrence J. Vale and Thomas J. Campanella
• Planetizen, Top Ten Book of 2005
For as long as they have existed, cities have been destroyed—sacked, shaken, burnt, bombed, flooded, starved, irradiated, and pillaged—in almost every case they have risen again. Rarely in modern times has a city not been rebuilt following destruction, be it natural or man-made.
An international cast of historians, architects, and urban studies experts looks at a diverse group of cities that have suffered traumas. In so doing, they bring to light the experiences these resilient cities share, while underscoring that no two cities have recovered in the precisely the same way.
The History and Science of Hurricanes
Kerry Emanuel
• Emanuel has been chosen as one of TIME Magazine's "100 People Who Shape Our World"
• Named One of the "Top Twenty Science Books of 2005" by Discover Magazine
Emanuel, one of the world's leading authorities on hurricanes, gives us an engaging account of these awe-inspiring meteorological events, revealing how hurricanes and typhoons have literally altered human history, thwarting military incursions and changing the course of explorations.
Boasting more than one hundred color illustrations, from ultra-modern Doppler imagery to classic paintings by Winslow Homer, Divine Wind captures the profound effects that hurricanes have had on humanity.