Abstract: Assessment on the social vulnerability to flood is of guiding importance to the disaster reduction, decision-making and early warning in flood-stricken areas. According to the socio-economic data of Jingzhou city, we established an assessment index system involving 32 indicators in terms of population, economy, employment, education, land use and housing conditions, transportation and communication, and disaster management. Through factor analysis, we determined five main factors, namely, comprehensive economy, agriculture and population, rescue condition, social security system and housing conditions. Then we calculated the score of each factor and the regional total scores of social vulnerability. Finally, these factor scores are processed by hierarchical cluster procedures and geographic information system (GIS). The social vulnerability to flood is classified into serious, medium-serious, moderate, and gentle class. Among districts in Jingzhou city, Jianli belongs to serious class, Jiangling, Gong’an, Honghu, Songzi and Shishou belong to medium-serious class, Jingzhou district belongs to moderate and Shashi district belongs to gentle class.

Key words: flood disaster, social vulnerability, factor analysis, hierarchical cluster, Jingzhou