Risk Perception and Preparedness in Flash Flood-Affected Communities: Evidence from Bahorok, Indonesia (original) (raw)

Abstract

It is part of the natural conservation area of Gunung Leuser National Park (GLNP), often referred to as the Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra. GLNP is the oldest National Park in the country, covering 1,094,692 hectares in Aceh and North Sumatra. At least 3,500 plant species live in various habitats in GLNP, an area designated by UNESCO as a Biosphere reserve and a world heritage site. The village is 100-700 meters above sea level and has a hilly to steep topography. Although the area has a beautiful natural panorama that makes it a tourist attraction, it has a very high flash flood hazard. It is located in the Bahorok Watershed, where 68% has a 30%-70% slope. The flash flood risk is also caused by destroying ecosystems in GLNP forest. In the last ten years, the area has experienced deforestation of 30,000 hectares caused by illegal logging and land conversion. The construction of home stays, restaurants, and hotels along Bahorok River increases the risk of flash-ABSTRACT The Bahorok River basin has a high flash-flood hazard index. This is shown by loss of lives and damage of homes due to floods in recent years, however, no research examined community preparedness on the hazard of flash-flood. This research aimed to assess the effect of disaster experience and flood-risk perception on disaster preparedness of the people of Bukit Lawang Plantation Village. A cross-sectional survey design was used to determine the relationship between disaster experience, risk perception and preparedness as the independent and dependent variables, respectively. The results showed that disaster experience and risk perception positively and significantly affect the community preparedness. Disaster risk reduction programs in the region only focus on emergency response, rehabilitation, and reconstruction. Furthermore, increasing public awareness and preparedness has not been prioritized in reducing flood risk. This is an essential aspect for consideration because mountainous areas are often marginalized and lack access to disaster risk reduction programs.

Figures (9)

This research was conducted in the Bukit Lawang Plantation Village in the utilization area of GLNP, Bahorok District, Langkat Regency, North Sumatra Province. The village is located in the Bahorok River Basin, 100-700 meters above sea level, and has a steep hilly topography. It has a high flash-flood risk index because it is located in a valley (Figure 1) exacerbated by the 300 homestays and hotels built along Bahorok River. Additionally, the area has a landslide hazard index because 68% of the Bahorok River basin has a slope of 30% - 70%. The village is one of the areas destroyed during a flood in 2003.

This research was conducted in the Bukit Lawang Plantation Village in the utilization area of GLNP, Bahorok District, Langkat Regency, North Sumatra Province. The village is located in the Bahorok River Basin, 100-700 meters above sea level, and has a steep hilly topography. It has a high flash-flood risk index because it is located in a valley (Figure 1) exacerbated by the 300 homestays and hotels built along Bahorok River. Additionally, the area has a landslide hazard index because 68% of the Bahorok River basin has a slope of 30% - 70%. The village is one of the areas destroyed during a flood in 2003.

Figure 1. Map of research locations

Figure 1. Map of research locations

experienced damage to their houses, lost property, were victimized, or experienced evacuation. The

experienced damage to their houses, lost property, were victimized, or experienced evacuation. The

Most respondents were aged between 25 and 35, and 50.8% were males. The reliability test showed that all variables had high reliability values and a Cronbach's Alpha > 0.6. This shows that all variables are feasible to use, as shown in Table 2. A total of 208 respondents representing households in Lawang Plantation in North Sumatra were interviewed. Table 1 shows the demographic characteristics of respondents. 3.1 Respondents' Characteristics Table 2. Variable reliability test

Most respondents were aged between 25 and 35, and 50.8% were males. The reliability test showed that all variables had high reliability values and a Cronbach's Alpha > 0.6. This shows that all variables are feasible to use, as shown in Table 2. A total of 208 respondents representing households in Lawang Plantation in North Sumatra were interviewed. Table 1 shows the demographic characteristics of respondents. 3.1 Respondents' Characteristics Table 2. Variable reliability test

Table 3. Respondents’ flood experience 3.3 Flood Risk Perception

Table 3. Respondents’ flood experience 3.3 Flood Risk Perception

3.4 Flood Preparedness

3.4 Flood Preparedness

Table 6. Multiple regression test results Simultaneous testing showed that disaster experience and risk perception significantly affect disaster preparedness. The simultaneous influence of the independent variable on the dependent variable has a coefficient of determination (R Square) of 0.266 or 26.6%, while factors outside this research influence 73.46%.

Table 6. Multiple regression test results Simultaneous testing showed that disaster experience and risk perception significantly affect disaster preparedness. The simultaneous influence of the independent variable on the dependent variable has a coefficient of determination (R Square) of 0.266 or 26.6%, while factors outside this research influence 73.46%.

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