Disaster Preparedness in Proximity of Merapi Volcano, Indonesia: Is There Any Relationship in Knowledge and Attitude of Senior High School Students?

Abstract

categorized as a volcanic disaster-prone area. In the study area, every student possesses knowledge and attitude toward volcano disaster preparedness since they have a high risk when Merapi Volcano erupts. The objectives of this study were to 1) find out the disaster knowledge attitudes and student preparedness in dealing with volcanic disasters and (2) find out the relationship between knowledge and student preparedness. This study uses a quantitative method of correlation with a questionnaire based filed survey. Data were processed using SPSS 21 In order to achieve the study objectives 120 students were intensively interviewed in two senior high schools, namely Senior High School 1 Pakem and Senior High School 1 Cangkringan, which are located in close proximity to Merapi Volcano Sleman Regency, Yogyakarta Province. The results showed that as many as 120 students, or 95% of the total research subjects, experienced a volcanic disaster. While the preparedness results obtained from the four main parameters, namely (1) Knowledge and attitudes, (2) Emergency response plans, (3) Disaster warning systems (4) Resource Mobilization, showed that 120 students were in the "Ready" category. The results of this study indicate a mismatch between aspects of knowledge and preparedness. The lack of transfer of disaster knowledge to students influences common disaster knowledge. It was found that, high preparedness has direct relationship with students' experiences, as they were directly affected by Merapi Volcanic disasters.