Cyclone Pam in Vanuatu: Learning from the low death toll

Cyclone Pam was one of the strongest cyclones to hit the south-west Pacific. In 2015 it struck some of the most populated parts of Vanuatu, resulting in extensive damage. Remarkably, only 11 deaths related to the cyclone were recorded. There has been some media attention to this good news and the logical questions are: Why was the death toll low, and are there lessons for other countries? This paper examines the cyclone effects and explores possible reasons for the relatively low loss of life. Considerations include effective warnings and the high degree of self-reliance within communities, as well as aspects of the cyclone, in particular, the absence of a storm surge and major flooding in the area