Community Based Natural Disaster Preparedness: A Case Study of Pattani Province

Abstract

Objectives of the study were, firstly, to study attitude of people on community disaster preparedness and, secondly, to suggest pathways to increase community capabilities to cope with natural disaster. Quantitative research methodology was applied to collect data. The areas of study were Lampho sub-district, Rusamelae sub-district, and Talo kapo sub-district of Pattani province. Sample group of the research was people in 3 subdistrict mentioned above and total number was 1,226 persons. Questionnaire survey was applied to collect the data. According to community preparedness, first objective, the community awareness on natural disaster was the highest mean scores (3.15). The second was knowledge of community leaders. Knowledge of people was ranked the third. Unite of people to cope with natural disaster and people preparedness were the fourth. People have enough money to cope with the damage from disaster was ranked the lowest mean scores. The suggestions of the study to help increase people capability were, firstly, applying public media that are available for people. The second was increasing people participation in processes of disaster preparedness plan. The third was training local officials for disaster preparedness. Expanding cooperation, fourthly, with private and civil society organizations was crucial to help community for fighting disaster. Increasing awareness, lastly, for local leaders and people was an important pathway for disaster risk reduction.