Description:
Why do people build in areas open to repeated natural disasters? Drawing on a variety of insights from environmental sociology, Superstorm Sandy offers a wide-ranging look at the Jersey Shore both before and after this disaster, examining the many factors--such as cultural attachment, tourism revenues, and governmental regulation--that combined to create a highly vulnerable coastal region and that fueled the demand to rebuild.
Review Quotes: "In examining the roots of New Jersey's storm response, Bates tracks historical data sets, including ethnic migrations and the rise of casinos, to provide a framework for the community-level response to Sandy. The result is a comprehensive view of the entire state from its foundation to the modern day. While the book is useful as an examination of the roots of the federal, state, and local reaction to Sandy, it could almost stand alone as a quick socioeconomic history of the entire state of New Jersey ... Highly recommended for policymakers, local governments, and active citizens working in any disaster-prone coastal area."-- "Foreword Reviews"