Wareham Free Library: A Lecture & Discussion on Natural Disasters and Human Resilience

A significant portion of the world’s population lives under the looming threat of natural hazards—earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes, and more. While global death rates from disasters have declined, the toll on infrastructure, economies, and mental health continues to rise.

Join disaster researcher Matt Davis for a fascinating lecture and discussion exploring what it means to live on an unpredictable planet. Drawing on his work at Italy’s Mt. Vesuvius and Washington’s Mt. Rainier, his time responding to Hurricane Katrina, and his efforts in California’s earthquake preparedness campaigns, Davis offers insight into the human dimensions of disaster: why people settle in risky areas, how psychology affects preparedness, and what makes for effective recovery.

This program is free and open to all—no registration required. Sponsored by the Friends of the Wareham Free Library as part of the Get Caught @ Your Library summer reading series.