Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction to decision making for emergency managers in perspective -- The military decision making process -- A short history of the study of decision making -- Decision making in emergencies, disasters, and catastrophic events -- Common mistakes in decision making during events -- Money is not the problem or solution -- Does the National Incident Management System (NIMS) really work for major event management? -- Silos will get someone killed -- None of us are as smart as all of us -- Global approaches to disaster management -- Additional case studies.

Decision-Making in Emergency Management examines decisions the authors have made over their careers based on their combined training, experience and instinct. Through a broad range of case studies, readers discover how experience impacts decision-making in conjunction with research and tools available. While the use of science, data and industry standards are always the best option when it comes to handling emergency situations, not all emergency situations fit one known solution. This book comprehensively explores the question "Is {u2018}instinct{u2019} a viable factor when faced with a challenging situation and how close does it match up with the best science available?"