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NATURAL HAZARD LOSSES IN THE UNITED STATES: A PUBLIC PROBLEM
Author(s) -
Petak William J.,
Atkisson Arthur A.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
review of policy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.832
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1541-1338
pISSN - 1541-132X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1541-1338.1985.tb00314.x
Subject(s) - liberian dollar , quartile , hazard , natural hazard , population , natural (archaeology) , economics , geography , demography , statistics , sociology , mathematics , finance , confidence interval , chemistry , organic chemistry , meteorology , archaeology
Using arisk analysis and evaluation approach, the authors estimate losses from nine major natural hazards in the United States. The data show that these probable losses exceed those of many other national social problems, including fire and crime. The article also examines geographic and social distributions of estimated losses. States in the upper quartile of hazard exposure are likely to account for 50 percent of the increase in dollar losses over the next 30 years. Consistent with prior research, the most dependent segments of the population (poor, elderly, non‐white) will proportionately suffer the most. While policy options pose inherently difficult choices, many promising avenues have yet to be fully explored.