Why is evacuation so difficult? Sociocultural aspects of landslide disaster in Ponorogo, Indonesia
Disaster Prevention and Management
ISSN: 0965-3562
Article publication date: 18 November 2020
Issue publication date: 12 March 2021
Abstract
Purpose
Sociocultural aspects of populations residing in disaster-prone areas have not often been discussed in disaster evacuation studies. Therefore, the main purpose of this paper is to describe the sociocultural factors affecting evacuation decision-making.
Design/methodology/approach
This was an exploratory research study which used in-depth semi-structured interviews to collect the data. Selection of the informants was also fulfilled via the purposive sampling method with regard to specific criteria. The informants consisted of 20 villagers that had faced a disaster and eight staff members of the Regional Board of Disaster Management of the Republic of Indonesia which is Badan Penanggulangan Bencana Daerah (BPBD), Ponorogo, who had managed it. The data analysis was ultimately performed through thematic coding.
Findings
The results of the coding analysis revealed that sociocultural aspects were among the primary reasons for evacuation decisions before disasters. In this paper, sociocultural factors shaping evacuation decision behavior could be a result of norms, roles, language, leadership, rules, habits, jobs, perceptions, family engagement, as well as other behaviors demonstrated by individuals and the community.
Research limitations/implications
This study is not analyzing the role of the social organization or a religious one and also the economic aspect in the evacuation decision-making.
Practical implications
This paper includes implications for the local government and the BPBD Ponorogo to establish an efficient communication strategy persuading villagers to evacuate. In general, formal policies cannot always be implemented in managing disaster; therefore, visible dedication and solidarity of the members are always needed in order to manage evacuation problems.
Originality/value
This paper meets needs for a study delineating sociocultural factors affecting evacuation decisions before disasters strike. Sociocultural theory could also describe real aspects of culture inherent in the daily lives of populations living in disaster-prone areas.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Funding: This research was supported by funding from Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta.
The authors wish to thank all the informants for giving the authors the valuable information that helped in the present research study. The authors feel very inspired by their dedication and solidarity. However, the authors are solely responsible for the findings presented in this study.
Citation
Purworini, D., Hartuti, D.P. and Purnamasari, D. (2021), "Why is evacuation so difficult? Sociocultural aspects of landslide disaster in Ponorogo, Indonesia", Disaster Prevention and Management, Vol. 30 No. 2, pp. 137-148. https://doi.org/10.1108/DPM-04-2019-0123
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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