Foreword
Preface
Acknowledgments
Introduction
1. Biothreats
2. Climate Change
3. Critical Infrastructure Failure
4. Cyberthreats
5. Nuclear Conflict
6. Crosscutting Threats and Vulnerabilities
Conclusion: Investing in Today, Investing in Tomorrow
Notes
Bibliography
Index
Jeff Schlegelmilch is a research scholar and the director of the
National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University’s
Earth Institute. He previously worked for the Yale New Haven Health
System Center for Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Response, as
well as the Boston Public Health Commission.
Irwin Redlener is the founder and currently a senior research
scholar and the director of the Pandemic Resource and Response
Initiative at the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at
Columbia University’s Earth Institute. His books include The Future
of Us: What the Dreams of Children Mean for Twenty-First-Century
America (Columbia, 2017).
It is often said that the tragedy of 9/11 was rooted in a failure
to imagine a disaster of that particular character and scale. Jeff
Schlegelmilch reminds us once again of the continued relevance of
that hard-earned lesson. He guides us through extreme but plausible
scenarios of some of the most existential threats we
face—biological catastrophe, cyber infrastructure collapse, and
other civilization-altering events—providing a straightforward
account of what could be in store for us if we fail to invest in
prevention and mitigation. Rethinking Readiness forces our leaders
to answer the question—have we done all we can? Now is the time to
imagine!
*Tom Ridge, forty-third governor of Pennsylvania and first U.S.
Secretary of Homeland Security*
This timely book both looks ahead to the mega-disasters on the
horizon—disasters that tank economies, shred infrastructure, and
take lives—and outlines how communities can start preparing now. It
is an essential guide for policy makers and concerned citizens
alike who want to build a better future.
*Alice C. Hill, former senior director of resilience policy on the
National Security Council*
Covering a wide range of natural hazards and man made threats,
Schlegelmilch's book pushes us to think through the question that
we ask all too often: are we truly prepared? With chapters on
biothreats, climate change, critical infrastructure failure,
cyberthreats, and nuclear conflict, he sets out a framework to
ensure that we take serious risks head on and build resilience to
them. A must read.
*Daniel P. Aldrich, author of Black Wave and Building
Resilience and director of the Security and Resilience Program
at Northeastern University*
Rethinking Readiness brings information on the scientific elements
and socially constructed origins of megadisasters together in a
clear and organized way. Schlegelmilch illustrates the
interconnectivity of multiple drivers, showing how research and
practice should consider these if we are to reach a more
sustainable future.
*Ksenia Chmutina, coauthor of Disaster Risk Reduction for the
Built Environment*
Schlegelmilch provides a new perspective on the major threats and
vulnerabilities facing modern society. Readers will find the
discussion of megadisasters intriguing and the argument for better
preparation compelling. Rethinking Readiness argues for a broader
view of disasters and for a sustained effort to reduce the threats
and societal vulnerability.
*William L. Waugh Jr., Professor Emeritus, Georgia State
University*
Rethinking Readiness is a must-read for everyone committed to
understanding the most existential threats we face, reinforced by
the inclusion of multiple examples of inadequate response,
including the identification of risks, opportunities, and
misapplications embedded in practice. Compelling reading.
*The Hindu Business Line*
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