A Preparedness Index (PI) to Assess the Capacities for Tsunami Warning and Evacuation Planning: A Case Study from Padang City, Indonesia

Tsunami is a hydrological hazard that has attracted a significant attention in the disaster risk reduction (DRR) discipline since the phenomena of unprecedented coastal urbanization has been increasing the causes for tsunami risk in coastal cities. Padang is the capital city of the West Sumatra in Indonesia and a coastal city frequently affected by tsunami impacts triggered in the ‘Pacific ring of fire’. Hence, the tsunami warning and evacuation planning is considered as a critical need in the DRR strategies of the Padang city. This research is aimed at evaluating the relevant capacities within the Padang city for improving the preparedness for tsunami hazard. The overall preparedness of the city for potential tsunami impacts has been assessed by calculating the preparedness index (PI) which is composed of four key indicators; Knowledge and attitudes (KAP), emergency response plan (EP), early warning system (WS), mobilization of resources (RM). The results recorded 74/100 for PI which categorizes the city as ‘ready for preparedness’ signifying the availability of high capacities for the improvement of tsunami warning and evacuation planning. The result of the PI can be further interpreted to identify the structural measures such as vertical shelters and evacuation routes for the better preparedness against tsunami hazard.