Perception of recovery of households affected by 2008 Wenchuan earthquake: A structural equation model

Abstract

Much of the literature on recovery focuses on the economy, the physical environment and infrastructure at a macro level, which may ignore the personal experiences of affected individuals during recovery. This paper combines internal factors at a micro level and external factors at a macro level to model for understanding perception of recovery (PoR). This study focuses on areas devastated by the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake in China. With respect to three recovery-related aspects (house recovery condition (HRC), family recovery power (FRP) and reconstruction investment (RI)), structural equation modeling (SEM) was applied. It was found that the three aspects (FRP, HRC and RI) effectively explain how earthquake affected households perceive recovery. Internal factors associated with FRP contributed the most to favourable PoR, followed by external factors associated with HRC. Findings identified that for PoR the importance of active recovery within households outweighed an advantageous house recovery condition. At the same time, households trapped in unfavourable external conditions would invest more in housing recovery, which result in wealth accumulation and improved quality of life leading to a high level of PoR. In addition, schooling in households showed a negative effect on improving PoR. This research contributes to current debates around post-disaster permanent housing policy. It is implied that a one-size-fits-all policy in disaster recovery may not be effective and more specific assistance should be provided to those people in need.

Resilience of an Earthquake-Stricken Rural Community in Southwest China: Correlation with Disaster Risk Reduction Efforts

“…At the family level, evidence suggests that families with better economic status before a disaster would be more likely to bounce back [56]. Therefore, investments in boosting the capacity of the individual household by providing financial assistance and technical support seemed necessary for better recovery after a disaster [57]. Nonetheless, while lower income may cause families in a shortage of financial assets, it does not necessarily reduce their relational and social support assets [58].…”

Household recovery strategies in Longmen Mountain area, Sichuan, China, following the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake disaster

“…The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction issued by the United Nations called for a broader and more people-centred approach to reduce disaster risk. The important roles of stakeholders, international cooperation and global partnerships are also addressed in this framework (Lin et al 2017). Therefore, involvement of local stakeholders and use of bottom-up adaptation are very important for long-term adaptation of settlements to hazards triggered by earthquakes.…”

A Comparison of Different Reconstruction Modes and Adaptive Evaluation Systems for Community Recovery Following the Wenchuan Earthquake

“…The 2008 Wenchuan earthquake reinvigorated many domestic scholars to research natural disasters [28,29]. The subsequent literature concerns policies, laws, and regulations, theories, ideas, and other aspects of that research [30,31]. In connection with the problems associated with urban and rural post-disaster reconstruction planning, policies, and measures, Qiu [28] proposed that the people should choose technological innovations, employment opportunities, and living situations, as well as post-disaster evolution, reconstruction, and transformation practices and other eco-city construction modes should be made on the basis of actual situations in seismic areas.…”