Disaster emergency preparedness literacy education and training for city dwellers: A proposed model

Abstract

The heavy rains in Malaysia in 2021 caused big flooding and landslides in major cities have stunned the unprepared residents over the torrential downpours. The most affected city dwellers are among those low-income categories residents who live in low-cost housing and highly populated areas. Thus, this research is proposed to understand the state of disaster preparedness among city dwellers in Malaysia. The research will adopt a mixed methods approach. The qualitative approach will take place first in the data collection process. Subsequently, a quantitative approach will be conducted. The respondents will be among the city dwellers aged 20 and over. The expected findings will be the city dwellers' disaster preparedness effectiveness and efficiency in rebuilding their livelihood. They seem in line with the two decades government policy on Disaster Reduction Risk which started in the 1970s. The expected implication will be a new model of disaster emergency preparedness for city dwellers, particularly the low-income city dwellers including the special groups. Hence, the research output is expected to assist the emergency management of stakeholders in educating, monitoring, and acting upon the physical and mental preparedness at all levels.