Natural Hazards and Disasters

After completing my BA degree in Psychology, I had decided to take other courses that were non-related to my field of study: one of them being an introductory Geology course concerning natural disasters. The text used in my class was, NATURAL HAZARDS AND DISASTERS, by Donald and David Hyndman. The natural disasters course I took at school was excellent! It enhanced my knowledge about the Earth's processes, and the affects of man on nature. Major topics addressed in class included earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, landslides, hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, and meteor impacts. The text supplemented for this class was very user-friendly. It was well-organized and also well-written. There were many colorful pictures and figures that helped with the learning of fundamental concepts. A couple chapters I enjoyed in particular was the chapter, "Volcanoes: Materials, Hazards, and Eruptive Mechanisms," which concentrated mostly on the 1980 Mt. St. Helen eruption. The first page was a riveting documentation of that awful and fantastic event. Another interesting chapter focused on "Landslides And Other Downslope Movements," which included an excellent "Up Close" example about the reoccurring landslides in the small community of La Conchita, California. (As a native Californian, I know landslides are a big deal--not to mention earthquakes--and wildfires!). Though La Conchita is an idyllic place to live--conveniently located along side the Pacific Ocean--it is also an extremely hazardous dwelling; this small community is situated below a very unstable hillside, which throughout history, has killed so many people. For educational purposes, this very detailed and informative text serves as a great resource. Although a bit pricey, I believe it's well worth it! Everyone should read it. No matter where you live, a natural hazard exists. What the Hyndman's say is true: "we need to learn to live with natural events instead of trying to control them." NOTE: There is an updated version of this text, which includes an exclusive chapter about Hurricane Katrina.