Empowering Coastal Youth: Taruna Siaga App Transforms Disaster Preparedness in Tsunami-Prone Pacitan Villages

Abstract

Background. Pacitan Regency is a coastal area in East Java rich in natural resources but located in a disaster-prone zone due to its position on the Pacific Ring of Fire. This geographical condition exposes Pacitan to high risks of earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, and landslides. The main problem faced by Karang Taruna (youth organization) partners in Pacitan is a low level of mitigation knowledge and minimal active participation in disaster preparedness planning. Data from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPD) in 2023 supports this, showing that 71% of the community's knowledge on disaster risk reduction is at a "moderate" level, with only 2% being "excellent." Objective. This community service program aims to improve disaster preparedness through youth mentoring and training by utilizing an interactive application named "Taruna Siaga." Method. The program was implemented in four main stages: (1) Activity preparation and application development; (2) Training that included mitigation theory, application usage workshops, and evacuation simulations; (3) Monitoring and evaluation using pre-tests and post-tests; and (4) Follow-up through the formation of a local disaster preparedness team. Results. The program demonstrated a significant improvement in the disaster mitigation understanding and skills of 40 Karang Taruna members. This was evidenced by an increase in their average knowledge score from 65% to 87%. The "Taruna Siaga" application proved effective as an interactive and accessible educational medium. Conclusion. The implementation of this training program supports the formation of disaster-resilient communities in the coastal areas of Pacitan.