Harjamukti is one of the most disaster-prone districts in Cirebon City, West Java. According to local disaster management records, the city recorded 54 disaster events in 2022 alone. These included 32 extreme weather incidents, 15 floods and tidal floods, five landslides, and two fires. Many residential areas and public buildings, including houses of worship, are located in flood-prone zones.
In Indonesian communities, mosques, churches, and temples often function beyond their spiritual roles. They become gathering points, distribution hubs, and temporary shelters during crises. However, this new research shows that most of these institutions operate without structured emergency plans, early warning integration, or formal coordination with local authorities.
Assessing 16 Houses of Worship
The research team assessed 16 active houses of worship in Harjamukti:
- 13 mosques
- 2 churches
- 1 Hindu temple
Smaller prayer rooms and a vihara were excluded because they do not function as public evacuation centers or have limited capacity.
The researchers evaluated preparedness using six key indicators:
- Risk knowledge
- Emergency planning (including standard operating procedures and evacuation routes)
- Early warning systems
- Human resource capacity
- Physical infrastructure
- Institutional partnerships
Data were collected through structured questionnaires distributed to mosque committees, church administrators, and temple managers. Responses were measured using a Likert scale to determine readiness levels.
Strong Volunteers, Weak Systems
The study reveals a clear imbalance between individual commitment and institutional preparedness.
Indicators rated as relatively strong:
- Human resource capacity: Mean score 4.67 (categorized as ready)
- Physical infrastructure: Mean score 3.69 (moderately ready)
Indicators rated as weak:
- Risk knowledge: Mean score 2.38
- Emergency planning: Mean score 1.88
- Institutional partnerships: Mean score 2.26
- Early warning systems: Mean score 1.58 (lowest score)
The lowest score in early warning systems indicates that most houses of worship are not directly connected to real-time disaster information from local authorities such as the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD).
This means that while religious leaders and volunteers are willing to help, their actions are largely spontaneous rather than guided by formal procedures.
The authors describe this condition as a “silo effect”: individuals are ready to respond, but institutions lack structured systems to coordinate response efforts effectively.
Knowledge Drives Collaboration
Statistical analysis shows a strong correlation between risk knowledge and institutional partnerships (ρ = 0.776), as well as between emergency planning and partnerships (ρ = 0.778). There is also a significant relationship between risk knowledge and early warning systems (ρ = 0.686).
These findings suggest that houses of worship with better understanding of local flood risks are more likely to build cooperation with government agencies.
“When administrators understand the specific disaster risks in their area, they become more proactive in establishing coordination,” the research team from Universitas Swadaya Gunung Jati explains in the article.
However, without formal agreements, training programs, and communication channels, their potential role in disaster response remains limited.
Cultural and Institutional Challenges
The study also identifies sociocultural factors influencing preparedness. In some cases, disaster events are viewed as acts of fate rather than risks that can be mitigated through planning. This perspective can reduce urgency for developing standard operating procedures or conducting evacuation drills.
International frameworks such as those promoted by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) define preparedness as a combination of risk awareness, planning, early warning integration, and resource mobilization. By that standard, most houses of worship in Harjamukti have not yet reached adequate preparedness levels.
Without clear evacuation routes, emergency simulations, or communication protocols, spontaneous goodwill may not be enough during a large-scale flood.
Policy Implications for Cirebon
The researchers recommend integrating houses of worship into Cirebon’s formal disaster resilience framework through a structured initiative, such as a “Disaster-Resilient Houses of Worship Program.”
Key recommended actions include:
- Developing standardized emergency procedures (SOPs)
- Conducting disaster preparedness training for interfaith administrators
- Providing basic emergency equipment and first-aid kits
- Integrating houses of worship into local early warning networks
- Officially designating selected houses of worship as neighborhood-level evacuation nodes
Such measures would transform houses of worship from informal shelters into coordinated resilience hubs.
Given Indonesia’s high disaster vulnerability, this model could be replicated in other urban areas where religious institutions serve as strong community anchors.
Why This Research Matters
Urban resilience increasingly depends on community-based institutions. In densely populated districts like Harjamukti, government response alone may not be sufficient during major floods. Strengthening collaboration between local authorities and trusted community institutions can significantly reduce disaster impact.
The study underscores one central message: social solidarity already exists, but it must be supported by structured systems.
Author Profiles
Zaki Muhammad Taqiuddin is a researcher in Urban and Regional Planning at Universitas Swadaya Gunung Jati, Cirebon. His work focuses on urban resilience, disaster mitigation, and community-based planning.
Aria Mariany, S.T., M.T., is a lecturer in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Swadaya Gunung Jati. Her expertise includes spatial planning, regional development policy, and disaster risk management.
Mohd. Abi Rafdi, S.T., M.T., is an academic in urban planning with research interests in institutional integration and infrastructure resilience in urban systems.
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