Preface
This paper was written as part of the NEURUS-program. This program, in full ‘Network of
European and US Regional and Urban Studies’, offers students an opportunity to study and
conduct research overseas for one semester in the final year of their studies. As an
environmental and infrastructure planning student at the Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, I did my
NEURUS-project at the University of California at Irvine during the fall semester of 2004,
focusing on natural hazard mitigation in the United States and more in particular in Los
Angeles County and Orange County, California. Being back in the Netherlands, I will write my
final thesis on a similar subject but now situated in the Netherlands, which facilitates a
comparison of mitigation policies in the Netherlands versus the United States.
Conducting research in a foreign country proved to be quite a challenge for me. Finding all the
literature that I needed for my research, and making contact with people who could provide me
with information on planning and mitigation practice in Southern California was sometimes
difficult. I would like to thank my advisor Richard Matthew for his advice and useful
comments that guided me through my research. Thanks also to those at UCI who helped me
with my literature review, especially Victoria Basolo. Before leaving for Irvine, Paul van Steen
was a great help to me, pointing out how I could apply for scholarships and explaining visa
procedures and other arrangements. I am very thankful for his help and for rousing my interest
for the NEURUS program in the first place. Finally, I would like to say special thanks to all
NEURUS and UCI students who made my stay in Irvine a most pleasant one by helping me
with practical problems and organizing some fun outings so I could escape from my research
activities every now and then!
Ellie Verheijen
February 2005
Groningen