Differences in Disaster Preparedness between Urban and Rural Communities in China1

Abstract Pre-disaster mitigation and preparedness activities are necessary to reduce vulnerability in a society and to protect people whenever disasters occur. Although disaster preparedness and protective behaviors have attracted scholars worldwide, there has been little investigation into the differences between the preparedness of rural and urban households. This study examines the associations of various influencing factors with household disaster preparedness in urban and rural China, where urban-rural differences remain substantial in spite of rapid economic growth. Data from a large area affected by the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake were used. Results from linear regression models showed that the urban-rural differences in disaster preparedness were mainly explained by the socioeconomic factors, such as education, income, and social status (being a CCP member). Community activities intended to reduce the risk of disaster can also encourage an individual to carry out preparedness activities. Interventions may be needed to focus on low socioeconomic status households to improve their disaster preparedness. Community activities may serve as an important approach to design interventions.