Vulnerability by people: lesson learned from vulnerable group in kampong aur medan in facing floods

Research Center for Population, Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: kittykatherina@gmail.com

Abstract

The flooding in Medan due to heavy rainfall area has become a daily problem to the community who lives in the riverbanks. It has been happening since many decades ago, but they are still there. Information on the vulnerability to natural hazards on a local level may help decision makers, stakeholders, and others to make better decisions regarding an effective disaster management. This study uses a qualitative approach to measure the level of vulnerability of communities in facing floods. The study identified how the communities perceive their exposure to the hazard, their sensitivity and their adaptive capacity. This study found the community already accept floods as a part of their life although the floods cause many losses. The experience in facing floods, strong social neighbourhood and strong local leadership are the capitals of the communities to survive. So vulnerability assessment at the community level should be constructed based on the perception and meaning of the community.