PERSEPSI RISIKO BANJIR DAN KEBAKARAN PADA WARGA ALALAK SELATAN SEBAGAI KONSEKUENSI TINGGAL DI ZONA LARANGAN

Abstract

This study explores how residents of Alalak Selatan perceive the risks of floods and fires as consequences of living in a restricted riverbank settlement zone. Using a qualitative fhenomenology, data were collected through in-depth interviews and guided observations grounded in theories of risk perception, risk-shaping factors, risk behavior, social vulnerability, and community-based adaptation. The findings reveal that residents consider flooding a routine event caused by tidal fluctuations and therefore not a serious threat, while fire is perceived as a major hazard due to past incidents that destroyed multiple homes. Limited disaster education and strong social influence play a significant role in shaping how residents interpret these risks and make decisions about staying in the area. The study also shows that community preparedness is stronger for fires than floods, supported by the presence of community-funded Fire Response Units (BPK) in each neighborhood (RT). High physical and social vulnerability such as densely packed wooden houses, limited economic resources, and dependence on local river-based livelihoods constrains residents from relocating despite awareness of danger. Community-based strategies, including mutual aid and strong neighborhood solidarity, function as the primary adaptive mechanisms during emergencies. This research offers a novel contribution by examining dual-risk perception (floods and fires) simultaneously and demonstrating that residents’ interpretations are shaped more by lived experience and social structure than by formal information. The findings provide a foundation for developing more context-sensitive community-based disaster mitigation strategies for riverbank settlements.