Disaster Mitigation Preparedness: Cases of Persons with Vision Disabilities in Indonesia

Abstract

It is empirically identified that persons with disabilities in several natural disasters evacuate themselves because they have not been optimally involved in disaster preparedness programs. The purpose of this study is to describe the preparedness of persons with visual disabilities in several provinces in Indonesia to face natural disasters, especially earthquakes which can occur at any time in their neighborhood. To achieve this goal, the research design in this study is an ex post facto descriptive study involving 62 respondents who have visual impairment taken randomly from several provinces in Indonesia. The conclusion shows that the initial knowledge of persons with visual disabilities regarding natural disasters can be categorized as enough. Likewise, their understanding of natural disaster early warning and emergency rescue when natural disasters occur can be categorized as enough. The results of these studies need further correction.