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Communities around the world face a range of potential hazards. The harm caused by natural phenomena like earthquakes, hurricanes, and volcanic eruptions depends not only on their severity, but also on the preparedness and resilience of the affected communities. Anthropogenic climate change has increased the frequency and intensity of some natural hazards, including floods, heat waves, and severe cold. Meanwhile, population growth has led to the increased vulnerability of many communities to disasters and emergencies, particularly in coastal and urban areas. As the population ages, more individuals also become especially threatened by the consequences of such events, including epidemics and other public health emergencies. Disasters can also be generated entirely by humans, such as cyber attacks. To deal with emergencies and disasters of all types, communities from the international to the local level must be prepared with a framework of prevention, mitigation, response, and recovery approaches.
This Collection welcomes original research on all aspects of disaster and emergency preparedness, from risk assessment to executing an effective response.
Pediatric Neurology and Metabolic Medicine, Center for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany