Analysis of Household Vulnerability and Adaptation Behaviors to Typhoon Saomai, Zhejiang Province, China

Tropical cyclones, induced by climate change, are happening more frequently and cause serious damage almost every year in China. For this reason, it is necessary to improve the ability of government, communities and households to adapt to climate change and tropical cyclones. Typhoon Saomai was the most powerful typhoon ever to hit Pingyang County, Zhejiang Province, and this report looks at the vulnerability of households as a result of the Saomai disaster and analyzes the factors that influenced vulnerability. The report analyzes the adaptive capacity of households using the following indicators: infrastructure, economic factors, technology, social factors, skills and knowledge. These indicators, and the factors that influence them, were analyzed using an econometric model analysis. The report also discusses the different adaptive options households could take and the reasons why some options, rather than others, were taken, including those which should have been taken before the typhoon struck, those which should have been performed during the typhoon, and those which were implemented after the typhoon. Finally, the report looks at the gaps between household needs and the reality of coping with typhoon disasters, and gives strategies to improve the ability of households to adapt to typhoons.