Community’s Perceptions on Their Own Environment toward Disaster Mitigation and Prevention: A Case Study of Menteng Atas – Jakarta, Indonesia

Abstract

Menteng Atas is a sub district (Kelurahan) in Southern Jakarta -Indonesia, under the district (Kecamatan) of Setiabudi. As a common crowded settlement in urban area, this location facing multi problems related to physical environment. Built environment with very high density and not well-arranged of fronts and position, also do not meet standards of healthy construction and environment are the main problems of Menteng Atas that brings to disasters such as flooding and fire. This paper explored how members of Menteng Atas community perceive their everyday surroundings within the context of an environment that has rapidly changed, primarily due to urban development. This paper also discuss how far they aware about their environment, the disasters prevention, and what they wants for the future of their environment. The study was start from the inside of the local community. Symbolic communication varies from one situation to the next were founded by studying the accounts, explanations, and social action that are meaningful to a group of people. This paper is trying to present and identify perception of host community on their own environment especially related to disasters prevention, and end up with some recommendations to achieve sustainable housing and settlement at this area.