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Grow Sun, Lisa --- "Disaster law and order" [2018] ELECD 495; in Lyster, Rosemary; Verchick, R.M. Robert (eds), "Research Handbook on Climate Disaster Law" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2018) 133

Book Title: Research Handbook on Climate Disaster Law

Editor(s): Lyster, Rosemary; Verchick, R.M. Robert

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN: 9781786430021

Section: Chapter 7

Section Title: Disaster law and order

Author(s): Grow Sun, Lisa

Number of pages: 15

Abstract/Description:

The traditional narrative of disaster crime suggests that as mechanisms of government and social control deteriorate human beings will also devolve into their worst selves. This disaster mythology — which mistakenly suggests that disasters commonly spur widespread looting and violence — has distorted disaster response by engendering a legal and policy structure that frames natural disaster response too much as a law enforcement, rather than a humanitarian, problem. While security concerns should not be ignored, decision-makers should be cognizant that such concerns may be overblown and should guard against overemphasizing security at the expense of prompt, effective, and humane disaster response.