Traditional Flood Mitigation by the Indigenous People of Sampang Madura

Abstract

Flooding has taken place in Sampang every year for the last decade. However, before 2010, flooding in this area only occurred on average once every 5-10 years. This paper attempted to analyze the flood intensities and the traditional flood mitigation practices of indigenous people from Sampang. The authors used historical methods consisting of heuristics, criticism, interpretation, and historiography to analyze the problem. By perusing government archives, newspapers, photos, videos, and interviews, the authors learned that flooding in Sampang has become more frequent and the range has become wider than in earlier periods, and this is due to the geomorphological condition and unfinished construction of sheet pile in Sungai Kemuning. This condition causes the residents to be flooded every year. To cope with flooding the residents use traditional mitigation techniques before and after flooding. They can feel hawa banjir through environmental signs surrounding their place. They measure the flood water level with a wooden stick called brenggongan. As an early warning system, they use kentongan and cell phones (to call family or colleagues in the North). When the floods come, important goods are stored in a shelter called ra’ para’an or paray. Moreover, the upper-middle class usually builds an attic (loteng) in their house, while the lower-middle class prefers to raise the floor of their house.
 Keywords: flood, traditional mitigation, Sampang, Madura