Robert L. Heath, Ph.D., is a retired professor of communication at the University of Houston. He has engaged in risk communication studies since the early 1990s, primarily related to the relationship between chemical manufacturing complexes and near neighbors. Dr. Heath's numerous publications include encyclopedia, handbooks, textbooks, edited volumes, and journal articles.

H. Dan O'Hair, Ph.D., is professor of communication and Director of Advanced Programs in the Department of Communication at the University of Oklahoma. He is the immediate past editor of the Journal of Applied Communication Research, and has served as an associate editor for over a dozen scholarly journals. Dr. O'Hair has authored and co-authored research articles and scholarly book chapters in the fields of communication, health, medicine, and business.

Section I: Exploring the Reach of Crisis and Risk Communication

Section II: Key Constructs of Crisis and Risk Communication

Section III: Contexts of Crisis and Risk Communication

The Handbook of Risk and Crisis Communication explores the scope and purpose of risk, and its counterpart, crisis, to facilitate the understanding of these issues from conceptual and strategic perspectives. Recognizing that risk is a central feature of our daily lives, found in relationships, organizations, governments, the environment, and a wide variety of interactions, contributors to this volume explore such questions as: "What is likely to happen, to whom, and with what consequences?"; "To what extent can science and vigilance prevent or mitigate negative outcomes?"; and "What obligation do some segments of local, national, and global populations have to help other segments manage risks?", shedding light on the issues in the quest for definitive answers.
The Handbook offers a broad approach to the study of risk and crisis as joint concerns. Chapters explore the reach of crisis and risk communication, define and examine key constructs, and parse the contexts of these vital areas. As a whole, the volume presents a comprehensive array of studies that highlight the standard principles and theories on both topics, serving as the largest effort to date focused on engaging risk communication discussions in a comprehensive manner.
With perspectives from psychology, sociology, anthropology, political science, economics, and communication, the Handbook of Risk and Crisis Communication enlarges the approach to defining and recognizing risk and how should it best be managed. It provides vital insights for all disciplines studying risk, including communication, public relations, business, and psychology, and will be required reading for scholars and researchers investigating risk and crisis in various contexts.