Tolley's Handbook of Disaster and Emergency Management

3rd Edition

Tony Moore and Raj Lakha, editors

Butterworth-Heinemann, 2006
ISBN 9780750669900

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Tolley's Handbook of Disaster and Emergency Management  aims to show how to minimise the potential damage of disasters in public and private sectors. This third edition takes into account the UK's Civil Contingencies Act 2004. It covers an impressive array of scenarios from construction and crisis management to the environment, disease and information systems and goes from planning aspects to case studies.

How does this series of articles read? Very well, is the answer. The structure is clear, especially in the case studies. event, damage and causation are discussed, as well as lessons learned. The case studies are well described and written at a fast pace. Including these alongside the practical planning frankly makes the handbook a good read. In particular I would cite the story of Mary Malone or Typoid Mary, the first documented healthy carrier of typoid, and the chapter on human error.

Arguably for the specialist expert in a particular field, the book reveals nothing new. The communicable disease and environment health chapter reads as standard for a nurse, while the disaster and emergency management systems section would be meat and drink for IT risk practitioners.

The value of the book lies in the sheer coverage, depth and readability. Issues range from medical responses, to insurance, law and public enquiries as well as forensics and crisis management. The book covers these areas in good depth without losing its way. The pure specialist could find it useful to see how planning and disaster affects other areas. Indeed, the readability of the handbook would make the subject open to risk specialists outside the disaster and emergency services.

Most importantly, as an operational risk consultant in the financial sector, would I find this book of use in my career? The answer is yes. dealing with people, process and systems day to day, the book expanded my knowledge of system risk as well as human behaviour and management failures. I used aspects within these pages during an out of work discussion on IT risk and disaster recovery to good effect.

My overall opinion is extremely positive about Tolley's Handbook of Disaster and Emergency Management. I like the book - I would not say I would buy it. its £69.99 cover price is too steep for me, despite the quality within.

Reviewed by Steve Westmoreland, IRM student and business risk consultant with Bradford and Bingley