Factors affecting household evacuation decision making in response to disaster: Case study from the 2021 South Kalimantan floods, Indonesia

Abstract

Understanding the factors that influence evacuation decisions is crucial for optimizing resource allocation and formulating an effective emergency plan, particularly in the communication and implementation of warnings. To assist with this endeavour, this study investigates whether selected variables affected evacuation decision-making during the 2021 South Kalimantan, Indonesia, Floods. This is achieved through identifying significant factors in a binomial regression model constructed using a resident survey during the extreme floods of January 2021 and the more typical frequent floods of December 2021. The survey captures sociodemographic, capacity-related, hazard-related and warning-related factors from 375 residents including 205 in West Banjarmasin (urban area) and 170 in Tabuk River (rural area). It was found that families with partial ownership of their house (renting or living with another family) and those with a higher number of members are less likely to evacuate, as are those with a lack of knowledge about evacuation shelters and routes. External factors influencing people's evacuation decisions included the flood height and duration as well as whether there was an unofficial warning to evacuate. The findings suggest the following actions could assist with encouraging safety-seeking behaviour through evacuation: ensure evacuation instructions reach larger families and households and that they are relevant for them; include evacuation instructions with warnings; and conduct regular evacuation drills that include information about the flood risk map and the location and route to relevant evacuation shelters.