Arnold M. Howitt

Katrina as Prelude: Preparing for and Responding to Katrina-Class Disturbances in the United States -- Testimony to U.S. Senate Committee, March 8, 2006

Testimony submitted by Professors Herman B. Leonard and Arnold M. Howitt of the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, regarding ways to improve federal and state/local disaster preparedness and response. Presented on March 8, 2006 to the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

The MCMA Transportation System: Mobility and Air Pollution

As discussed in previous chapters, the rapid growth of the MCMA’s population, motor vehicle fleet, and industrial activity over the latter half of the 20th Century combined with the city’s meteorological and topographical situation has produced extraordinary levels of air pollution. The MCMA is today one of the world’s five largest cities. Until recently, it also held the dubious distinction of being one of the world’s most polluted cities, suffering from serious ozone and particulate pollution for much of the year.

Confronting Disaster: Recent Lessons from the Asia-Pacific

Despite the fact that disasters have become more frequent and more costly in terms of economic losses throughout the world, most governments have yet to make a clear priority of addressing and managing risk reduction before disasters strike. According to the Annual Disaster Statistical Review 2012, in the last 10 years, the five countries most hit by natural disasters were China, the United States, the Philippines, India and Indonesia. In 2012 alone, Asia accounted for nearly 65 % of global disaster victims, with hydrological events, such as floods, storm surge and landslides, accounting for 75 % of the disasters in Asia during that year (Guha-Sapir et al. 2012). Taking these factors into account, this chapter discusses current and proposed efforts to reduce natural disaster risk in countries across the Asia-Pacific. It also overviews how subsequent chapters address the issue from a public policy and governance perspective, with a focus on three broad themes: (1) emergency response and humanitarian relief, (2) recovery and resilience, and (3) improving preparedness.