5.5 I SSUES OF P ERCEPTION RELATED WITH V ULNERABILITY R EDUCTION
5.5.5 Existing Efforts to Increase Response Capability at the Community Level
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Figure 5‐28 Various evacuation map developed by community with the support of NGOs
Source: Setiadi, 2009; NGO KOGAMI, 2009; NGO Muhammadiyah, 2009
Activities are evident at the household level in pilot areas e.g. community‐based response team building, socialization in mosque neighbourhoods, and in several pilot schools. During discussions with the NGO KOGAMI in the field study 2009, it was described that the community in their pilot areas was sceptical at first or expected “compensation” for their community preparedness activities, but they approached the community with several community leaders and people who were aware of the importance of such activities. Within the process, significant change was observed; the community became aware and were willing to participate actively in the preparedness activities, offering their time and available resources. Interestingly, the community involved was well mixed consisting of people with not only high, but also low socio‐economic level, who became aware of the existing tsunami risk and were willing to participate in preparedness efforts. Community arrangements on evacuation routes were developed and agreement between communities in the endangered and in the potential evacuation places was made. During the time of data collection, community initiatives to build physical evacuation facilities like opening evacuation paths and building local bridges were on‐going (Figure 5‐29). According to the people in the model community of KOGAMI, the response team KPB Elang Laut, and the KOGAMI staff who confirmed this information, some households even gave away a piece of land voluntarily for community initiatives.
Particularly the incorporation of religious values in their overall tsunami preparedness activities with the community had been a well‐received entry point and provided an indubitable basis for any other following educational and preparedness activities (Dewi, personal communication March 2012).
Similar phenomena were described in the discussions with the community‐based groups SIBAT established by the Red Cross in three pilot areas in the city in the Field Study 2009. People opened more access to the safer areas on their own initiative and at their own expenses, e.g. opening pathways perpendicular to the coastline which were blocked by the bushes (Figure 5‐30).
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Figure 5-29 Construction of local evacuation pathways and bridges initiated by the community educated by NGO KOGAMI
Source: KPB Elang Laut RW 14 Parupuk Tabing
Donated land for evacuation pathway
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Figure 5-30 Opening an evacuation pathway initiated by the community educated by the Red Cross
Source: Setiadi, 2009
Preparedness activities from the city government and local NGOs have involved the public facilities to some extent; in some pilot schools, the teachers and pupils were trained on what to do during strong earthquakes and potential tsunamis, and the staff in some hospitals and hotels was trained in emergency and evacuation. In contrast, the direct involvement of other private sectors in the preparedness activities, such as industries and market traders, was still very low (UNU‐EHS Survey on Critical Facilities 2008). The need for more accurate information about tsunami warning procedures and the provision of emergency facilities from the city government was articulated and there were varying perceptions of the facilities surveyed for on‐going efforts on tsunami preparedness in the city (semi‐structured interviews with selected facilities as part of the UNU‐EHS Critical Facilities Survey 2008). This can be associated with poor involvement of these facilities in the current efforts but also with lack of awareness of the facilities themselves.
Some scattered efforts at the community level have empowered the people to increase their evacuation capabilities. Even though evident in their positive impacts, the efforts cover only limited pilot areas and not yet the whole exposed areas in the city. Most community initiatives were initiated as short‐term projects and still need a legal basis to acknowledge their existence and roles. They also need continuous financial support to ensure their sustainability. The new local disaster management body (BPBD) is putting effort to integrate the existing community groups and initiatives and to set forth capacity building activities for them. Recently, some private sectors were also involved, e.g. to support socialization activities and the development of materials for community preparedness (FGD with local actors June 2010).
Moreover, special effort and strategy is needed to involve the minority group or non‐Minang community in the city, particularly the people of Chinese descent who are partly socially disaggregated and live in exposed areas in the old town area. It seems that this community was left
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behind in the existing outreach activities and is difficult to be involved in (informal conversations in the field trip 2009 and FGD with local actors June 2010). Approach through religious and ethnical society groups is needed to access these people.