This book explores the earthquake event and the complex relationships of the plate boundaries and how they impact America. Winchester uses key geographical terminology and explains it well. The book not only enhances understanding of why people live in earthquake-prone zones (as well as other hazardous areas), but also understanding of plate tectonics and the study of these events. Winchester examines the historical reasons why people live in these areas, as well as first-hand memories from people who experienced the events, and weaves them in with geographical theory. You could use parts of the book as examples for all years or recommend to GCSE and A-level students as reading. 

This book focuses on the human element of disasters. It looks at how disasters occur due to our choice to live in an area, our vulnerability and sometimes our arrogance in the face of nature. Kelman discusses a range of hazards and how human decisions influence whether these hazards become disasters, looking at all aspects of disaster and the key players that influence impacts. The book is a fantastic review of different hazards and could be used for examples or given as reading. You could use it to compare the hazards in different areas and the reasons why people continue to live there. 

This resource looks at a group of black middle-class women survivors from Hurricane Katrina. It is a fascinating look at how women respond and recover. It gives first-hand accounts that show how a disaster can impact people who are often overlooked. I have used quotes from the book for students to study in my lessons, but you can use their narratives in many ways in your teaching, from creative writing to analysis work. It will give students a much deeper appreciation of how people can be impacted by disasters. 

This is a heart-breaking account of the experiences of people in the 2011 tsunami, looking mainly at the aftermath of the event and how people dealt with the disaster. The book explains why people were living in these areas, and why some stayed after the disaster. The first-hand accounts of the tsunami would allow students to explore the question of why people stay even after horrific events have occurred. 

Psychologist Christine Rodrigu analyses the 'risk culture' and people's perception of risk around the San Andreas Fault.