ESTABLISHMENT OF DISASTER PREPAREDNESS THROUGH HIKAYAT SMONG ON SIMEULUE ISLAND

Abstract

Western Indonesia is an area where the Indo-Australian Plate meets the Eurasian Plate, making it vulnerable to natural disasters such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis. Indonesian people who are rich in wisdom have effective local references in disaster mitigation management. These references need to be explored to strengthen the cultural basis for disaster preparedness and mitigation. Through ethnographic and psychology studies, this study examines aspects of mental formation of disaster preparedness in the people of Simeulue Island based on local wisdom contained in the Hikayat Smong. This study found that Hikayat Smong proved to be an effective disaster mitigation for the people of Simeulue during the 2004 Tsunami and 2005 Earthquake. Apart from providing disaster information through oral history, it also provides an ethical and aesthetic foundation in shaping the character and mentality of the community in dealing with disasters. It is proven that with a large population, the victims of the tsunami and earthquake on Simeulue Island were very few and the post-disaster recovery process was fast and effective