Community Preparedness
and coping Strategies in facing Recurrent Flood Disasters in Kota Tinggi District,
Malaysia
Kamarudin Khairul Hisyam, Goh Jet Yang, Razak Khamarrul Azahari, Hosen Nadzirah
and Rashid Mohamad Fadhli
Disaster Advances; Vol. 18(11); 1-9;
doi: https://doi.org/10.25303/1811da0109; (2025)
Abstract
Recurrent flooding frequently causes property damage and loss of life in both urban
and rural settlements. In Kota Tinggi district, Johor, communities experience persistent
flood disruptions, yet limited preparedness hinders their ability to mitigate risks
and minimize losses. This study assesses the level of flood preparedness among vulnerable
communities in Kota Tinggi and explores coping strategies to enhance resilience.
A quantitative methodology was employed with structured questionnaires administered
to 63 randomly selected households. The survey questions were formulated based on
20 indicators under three main themes i.e. current knowledge (8 indicators), past
experience (5) and personal/communal skills (7). Data were analysed using SPSS (version
20.0), employing descriptive statistics, mean score and standard deviation to evaluate
community awareness and preparedness levels. The study finds that the community
has strong flood awareness and response skills, gaps in disaster education, information
access and communication hinder preparedness.
Despite well-established evacuation plans, minimal local authority involvement and
inconsistent community training weaken emergency responses. Limited access to emergency
supplies further exacerbates vulnerability. Additionally, weaknesses in protective
behaviours and early warning systems highlight the need for improved multi-hazard
planning and policy support. Strengthening early warning systems, enhancing local
government engagement and promoting community-based initiatives are crucial in improving
flood resilience and response capacity. The study highlights key community coping
strategies, including maintaining flood warning systems, integrating local knowledge
with modern preparedness mechanisms, organizing community clean-ups, strengthening
disaster education and advocating for long-term flood prevention policies.
