Disasters and Emergencies:
Prevention, Preparedness and Mitigation

by Sergio Paniagua and Luis Diego Cruz

EThis Spanish language book aims to meet civil society’s urgent need for up-to-date, clear, operational information on risk management and training. It invites readers to participate responsibly in emergency and disaster prevention and mitigation.

A description of the major natural and socio-natural hazards prevalent in Central America is included, as are considerations on the most effective kinds of interventions that can be carried out during a crisis. Unusually, attention is paid to the need for psychological care in order to safeguard the mental health of the population in the midst of a disaster.

Standards and procedures on how to store food and provisions, prepare an emergency kit, and develop family and community emergency plans are all presented in the book, as are a glossary of disaster-related terminology and samples of risk maps.

Costa Rica’s Editorial Tecnológica—the publishing arm of the Costa Rican Institute of Technology—is pleased to present this new book, which is aimed primarily at the Central American community but may prove useful in encouraging disaster prevention, preparedness and mitigation throughout the Spanish-speaking world.

Editorial Tecnológica de Costa Rica
Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica
Apdo. 159-7050, Cartago, Costa Rica
+506 550-2297, fax +506 552-5354
editec@itcr.ac.cr