Risk Risk Communication and Community Cyber Capacity in Mitigating the Merapi Volcano Eruption in Yogyakarta

Abstract

Earthquakes associated with the activity of Mount Merapi in Yogyakarta pose significant risks to communities living in surrounding areas. Effective risk communication is essential for improving public preparedness and strengthening community capacity to respond to potential disasters. This study aims to examine the influence of risk communication as the independent variable (X) on community cyber capacity as the dependent variable (Y), with a particular focus on disaster preparedness and mitigation knowledge. The study adopts a positivist paradigm and employs a quantitative research approach. Data were collected through a survey involving 258 respondents residing in Kinahrejo Hamlet, Umbulharjo Village, Cangkringan Subdistrict, Sleman Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta. The collected data were analyzed using simple linear regression to assess the relationship between risk communication and community cyber capacity. The findings indicate that risk communication contributes to enhancing community cyber capacity in accessing, understanding, and utilizing disaster-related information. However, the statistical results reveal that the influence of risk communication on community cyber capacity remains relatively limited, suggesting that additional factors, such as digital literacy, access to technology, and socio-cultural conditions, may also play important roles. Despite these limitations, risk communication remains a crucial component in strengthening disaster preparedness and mitigation efforts. The study highlights the need for more integrated, sustainable, and community-based communication strategies to improve the effectiveness of digital information dissemination and to support disaster resilience in disaster-prone communities around Mount Merapi.