Natural Hazards and Public Choice

The State and Local Politics of Hazard Mitigation

1st Edition - January 28, 1982
Authors: Peter H. Rossi, James D Wright, Eleanor Weber-Burdin
Editor: Peter H. Rossi
Language: English
eBook ISBN:
9 7 8 - 1 - 4 8 3 2 - 6 5 5 1 - 3

Natural Hazards and Public Choice: The State and Local Politics of Hazard Mitigation presents a research project that emerged from a concern for estimating the balance of support… Read more

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Natural Hazards and Public Choice: The State and Local Politics of Hazard Mitigation presents a research project that emerged from a concern for estimating the balance of support versus opposition to prospective social policies that aim to reduce the risks of damage or injuries from major natural hazard events via the regulation of land use and establishment of building and occupancy standards in high-risk areas. The volume begins with an overview of the research project and the main findings. Separate chapters describe the study design; assess the views of politically influential people regarding the seriousness of natural hazards; measure the support for federal disaster policies; and consider public opinion on hazards-mitigation issues in California. Subsequent chapters cover the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP); patterns of activity, influence, and power among key positions and groups in local communities with respect to issues involving disasters; and hazard mitigation activities at the state level.

PrefaceList of Tables1 Policy, Politics, and Natural Hazards: An Overview of Themes and Findings The Study The Policy Options The Salience of Natural Hazards Support for Policy Alternatives Popular Assessments of Hazards and Hazard Policies Elite Appraisals of the NFIP Patterns of Interest, Group Activity, and Power Summary2 The Study Design Defining the Universe Sampling States Sampling Local Communities Selecting Potential Respondents Interviewing Elites Who are the Elite? The California Resident Survey3 How Important are Natural Hazards Problems to State and Community Elites? Perceived Seriousness of Natural Hazards Other Serious Problems Mentioned Do Some Care More than Others? Why Some Care Variation in Hazard Seriousness among States Variation in Hazard Seriousness among Local Communities Perceived Hazard Seriousness: Local versus State Elites Determinants of Individual Seriousness Ratings: Local Elites Conclusions: on the Seriousness of Natural Hazards4 Elite Support Levels for Federal Disaster Policy Alternatives Measuring Support for Global Policy Alternatives The Mutability of Disaster Policy Preference Policy Endorsements of Elite Positions Determinants of Policy Approval by Individuals at the Local Level Results by States and Local Communities Assessments of Specific Hazard-Management Programs Summary and Conclusions5 Popular Assessments of Hazards and Hazards Policies: The Case of California's Nine Communities Californians' Ratings of Hazard Seriousness Levels of Disaster Preparedness Attitudes toward Federal Hazard-Management Policies Conclusions6 Elite Appraisals of the NFIP Background Legislation Relevant to the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 Community Participation The Role of the Government The Reactions of State Elites State Floodplain Regulations and NFIP State versus Local Elites: Mean Opinions, by State The Reactions of Local Elites The Problems, Controversies, and Future of the NFIP Summary and Conclusions7 Patterns of Interest and Power in Nonstructural Hazard-Mitigation Politics in Local Communities Levels of Local Community Activity, by Group and Position Patterns of Influence Regular Contact with Groups Elite Favorability toward Nonstructural Hazard-Mitigation Measures Who Influences the Elites? Who Influences City Hall? Summary and Conclusions8 Patterns of Group Activity and Power in State Hazard-Mitigation Legislation Activity Levels Correlates of Cluster Activity Levels Perceived Importance of Groups and Positions Favorability toward Nonstructural Hazard-Mitigation Legislation Elite Contacts with Groups and Positions Influences on Respondents Summary and ConclusionsAppendix A. Survey of Natural Disaster Public Policies: Key Persons Interview ScheduleAppendix B. Survey of Natural Disaster Public Policies: Household Residents Interview ScheduleReferences