The preparedness of school community in facing tsunami disaster in Lhokseumawe City

¹ Medical Faculty of Malikussaleh University, Indonesia
² U-INSPIRE Malaysia, Malaysia
³ Law Faculty of Malikussaleh University, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: whenyutari@unimal.ac.id

Abstract

A tsunami in Aceh in 2004 resulted in many casualties and damage to educational facilities. The disaster taught about the importance of preparedness in anticipating disasters to humans. It will help in shaping and planning what actions need to be taken in the event of a disaster. This study aimed to see the level of preparedness of the school community in Lhokseumawe City in dealing with the tsunami disaster. School community preparedness was measured using preparedness parameters, namely knowledge, and attitudes; policies and guidelines; emergency response planning; disaster warning system; and resource mobilization. This research is descriptive quantitative research employing a survey method using a closed questionnaire. Utilizing the descriptive percentage method, the research shows that the school community's preparedness in Lhokseumawe City is in the almost ready category with an index value of 57.02. The index value is obtained by adding up the index values for each parameter by taking into account its weight. The index value of the knowledge and attitude parameter of the school community; and the level of school community policies and guidelines are in the ready category with index scores of 68,24 and 65. School community emergency planning parameters; the level of the school community disaster warning system and the level of resource mobilization are in the unprepared category; not yet ready and almost ready with index values of 35.6; 40; and 54.15 respectively.