In this book David E. McNabb and Carl R. Swenson blend their different experiences to outline the nature of the crises government leaders now face. Together they provide a foundation of knowledge from which current and future elected leaders, policy makers, and public managers can develop the knowledge and skills necessary to confront these challenges. Merging the historic, academic, and practical aspects of emergency planning and disaster response, the book fills in the missing pieces for creating a guide to understanding the nature and breadth of the work ahead. The authors focus on the principles, framework, and structure of emergency preparedness planning and disaster response and recovery. In doing so, they draw on an extensive literature review, combined with relevant practical examples and insights to create a detailed picture of how to prepare for and respond to the increasing array of emergency crisis and disaster management. Disaster Management Policies and Practices provides a solid foundation in emergency preparedness and disaster response for practitioners, public managers, and those who aspire to such positions. It is designed for use as a resource for scholarly research in the theory and practice of emergency response, public administration, public policy, and governance.