California Catastrophes: The Natural Disaster History of the Golden State

California has more natural hazards per square mile than any other state, but this hasn't deterred people from moving here. Entire towns and regions frequently contend with destruction caused by active faults, earthquakes, and a myriad of other dangers, whether floods, landslides and debris flows, sea-level rise and coastal erosion, or climate change (which brings more drought, fires, and winter rainfall). As Gary Griggs demonstrates in California Catastrophes, few years go by without a disaster of some kind, and residents often rebuild in the same locations that were just destroyed.

Considering our current climate crisis and increasing environmental inequalities, the stakes are ever higher. This book dives into the history of the state's vulnerability to natural hazards, why and where these events occur, and how Californians can better prepare going forward. A mix of photographs and maps both historical and contemporary orients readers within the state's sprawling landscapes and provides glimpses of some of the geologic risks in each region. With the final chapter, Griggs issues a call to action and challenges readers to envision a safer, more equitable, and sustainable future.