Capacity of Local Government Tanah Karo Regency in Responding to Mount Sinabung Eruption in Indonesia

Abstract

Local governments have an important role in minimizing disaster risk. This is related to development goals in the region. Therefore, local governments must have the capacity to guide the community in order to minimize disaster risk. This aspect is contained in the context of this paper, namely knowing the capacity of the Tanah Karo Regency Government in minimizing the risk of the eruption of Mount Sinabung. In minimizing disaster risk, the Tanah Karo Regency Government has established the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) since 2014, although it is quite late compared to the Mount Sinabung eruption that has occurred since 2010. accurately and efficiently. In addition, the Tanah Karo Regency BPBD has the function of coordinating disaster management in an integrated manner. These vital duties and functions must be balanced with the capacity of an established BPBD institution. However, the process towards the establishment of the institutional capacity is not an instant process. In the early days of the existence of BPBD Tanah Karo Regency faced challenges, especially the role of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) which had not yet declared the Mount Sinabung eruption disaster as a national disaster. What can be concluded from this phenomenon is that the BPBD of Tanah Karo Regency must get accelerated institutional capacity building. So that the duties and authorities of the Tanah Karo Regency BPBD can carry out their functions and authorities effectively and efficiently, especially in minimizing the risk of the Mount Sinabung eruption disaster.

The obstacles hierarchy of school disaster preparedness implementation in Mount Sinabung area, Indonesia

“…As mentioned in the introduction, Mount Sinabung suddenly reactivated and released volcanic ashes in 2010 (BBC News, 2010). But several studies conducted 7-11 years after the eruption showed that the existing efforts and programs to reduce disaster risk is still needed to be fixed or improved (Situmorang, 2018;Wulandari et al, 2018;Sihombing et al, 2022). The existing studies on Mount Sinabung were conducted at the community and local government levels (Situmorang, 2018;Wulandari et al, 2018;Erianjoni et al, 2020;Sihombing et al, 2022).…”

“…But several studies conducted 7-11 years after the eruption showed that the existing efforts and programs to reduce disaster risk is still needed to be fixed or improved (Situmorang, 2018;Wulandari et al, 2018;Sihombing et al, 2022). The existing studies on Mount Sinabung were conducted at the community and local government levels (Situmorang, 2018;Wulandari et al, 2018;Erianjoni et al, 2020;Sihombing et al, 2022). There is no research that could explain the situation in the school community that is considered the vulnerable part and the central point in the community (Takahashi et al, 2015;Amri et al, 2016).…”

“…As mentioned before, there are several kinds of research about disaster preparedness that was conducted in the area of Mount Sinabung (Situmorang, 2018;Erianjoni et al, 2020;Kristian and Hutapea, 2021;Sihombing et al, 2022). But there was no research that focused on the implementation at the school community level.…”

“…Several previous studies have also shown interest in the DRR implementation in the Karo Regency. Research from Situmorang (2018) and Sihombing et al (2022) focused on disaster mitigation as an action set after the disaster at the local government level. Moreover, Erianjoni et al (2020) measured the adaptation and survival process of the community after the eruption.…”