Tsunami knowledge and emergency plans for tsunami preparedness of the Ambon Bay communities, Indonesia

The island of Ambon in Indonesia is highly vulnerable to tsunami hazards, with past events promoting better awareness and preparedness among its population. However, there is limited data on how well communities understand tsunami hazard and how they perceive the risk and respond to the emergency plans, especially in high-risk areas. This study targeted three tsunami-prone villages in the Sirimau District, collecting data through interviews, questionnaires, and field surveys conducted from May 27 to 31, 2024. The findings revealed that general tsunami knowledge scored at a "Ready" level, while emergency planning reached a "Very Ready" level. Despite strong scores, key gaps persist. These include limited historical disaster knowledge, difficulties in estimating tsunami arrival times, and challenges in integrating emergency plans with community-based preparedness measures. Among the studied villages, Galala demonstrated the highest level of readiness, while Pandan Kasturi exhibited the lowest due to limited knowledge retention and infrastructural issues. These disparities underscore the importance of improving tsunami awareness and preserving the historical memory of past disasters. Actively involving communities in evacuation drills and simulations is crucial, as hands-on participation enhances their understanding of escape routes and emergency responses. Moreover, public-private partnerships can play a pivotal role by initiating community-wide campaigns, promoting tsunami awareness, and installing clear evacuation signs to improve preparedness. Using a data-driven approach, this research offers valuable insights into the link between tsunami knowledge and emergency preparedness. It also provides actionable recommendations to strengthen disaster resilience, particularly for Eastern Indonesia.