Capacity Building of Gupit Village Community Through Disaster Mitigation and Psychological First Aid

Abstract

Background: Flooding is a hydrometeorological disaster that has the potential to cause physical, social, economic, and psychological losses to communities. Lack of knowledge about flood mitigation can increase the risk and impact of disasters at the community level. Gupit Village, Nguter District, Sukoharjo Regency, Central Java, is one of the areas potentially affected by flooding, requiring community capacity building through education and preparedness practices. This community service activity aims to increase community knowledge and preparedness regarding flood disaster mitigation and psychological first aid.

Methods: The activities employed an educational and participatory approach through interactive lectures, leaflets, demonstrations, simulations, discussions, and a question-and-answer session. The materials covered flood risks and mitigation, preparedness before, during, and after a flood, preparing a disaster preparedness bag, and the basic principles of psychological first aid (PFA). Evaluation was conducted using pre- and post-test questionnaires.

Results: Evaluation results showed an increase in knowledge after the education. Participants demonstrated a better understanding of flood mitigation, disaster preparedness kits, and the basic principles of providing psychological first aid.

Conclusion: Education combined with demonstrations and simulations can be a potential approach to increase community knowledge and preparedness in facing flood disasters as well as the ability to provide simple psychological first aid