The legal framework and implementation challenges faced by federal, state, local, individuals, and private sector entities in the preparedness for and recovery from destructive events such as hurricanes, wildfires, terrorist attacks, climate change, and pandemics. Topics may include the role of federalism; pre-disaster mitigation and prevention programs; the National Response Framework; the role of the military; the tension between individual rights and government action in emergencies; disaster resistance, compensation, and insurance; and long-term recovery; and international disasters. (Research paper or examination)