Disaster Hits Home is a book by University of California professor Mary C. Comerio that takes a look at what happens in the weeks and months after a disaster. Comerio uses six case scenarios - earthquakes and hurricanes in the US and Japan.

Post disaster rebuilding has changed significantly in recent years.

- scale. More urban development along coastal areas
- media. The mobility of media and the ability to cover disasters causes quicker politicized response
- private insurance companies are withdrawing leaving governments to deal with personnel, programs, and financial assistance.

In 1995 the Kobe earthquake in Japan killed 6 thousand people and left 3 hundred thousand homeless. 100 thousand buildings were destroyed.

It took Japan 10 years to rebuild Kobe, residents lived in temporary shelter for 8 years.
Currently the last buildings to be put up after disasters is housing for low income people.
Comerio suggests policy makers, finance experts and politicans need to look at better models for rebuilding.