Engaging Rural Communities for Disaster Resilience: Overview of DESTANA Initiation in Panusupan, Central Java

The integration of local knowledge for the enhancement of disaster resilience, particularly in rural areas, is a widely adopted approach in disaster risk reduction efforts. This study centers on bolstering the disaster resilience capabilities of rural communities through the utilization of the DESTANA program. This article provides a detailed account of the various phases involved in initiating DESTANA, encompassing preliminary activities, workshops, training sessions, disaster planning, policy development, and the formation of dedicated disaster response teams. The implementation of DESTANA in Panusupan Village, Banyumas region serves as a successful case study, showcasing the active involvement of the community in disaster risk reduction, the formulation of disaster response strategies, and the establishment of platforms for disaster risk reduction discussions and preparedness teams. This study strongly advocates for the early adoption of the DESTANA initiation program in rural villages as a proactive measure to mitigate the impact of disasters, particularly those linked to hydro-meteorological hazards.