Community Preparedness and coping Strategies in facing Recurrent Flood Disasters in Kota Tinggi District, Malaysia

Recurrent flooding frequently causes property damage and loss of life in both urban and rural settlements. In Kota Tinggi district, Johor, communities experience persistent flood disruptions, yet limited preparedness hinders their ability to mitigate risks and minimize losses. This study assesses the level of flood preparedness among vulnerable communities in Kota Tinggi and explores coping strategies to enhance resilience. A quantitative methodology was employed with structured questionnaires administered to 63 randomly selected households. The survey questions were formulated based on 20 indicators under three main themes i.e. current knowledge (8 indicators), past experience (5) and personal/communal skills (7). Data were analysed using SPSS (version 20.0), employing descriptive statistics, mean score and standard deviation to evaluate community awareness and preparedness levels. The study finds that the community has strong flood awareness and response skills, gaps in disaster education, information access and communication hinder preparedness. Despite well-established evacuation plans, minimal local authority involvement and inconsistent community training weaken emergency responses. Limited access to emergency supplies further exacerbates vulnerability. Additionally, weaknesses in protective behaviours and early warning systems highlight the need for improved multi-hazard planning and policy support. Strengthening early warning systems, enhancing local government engagement and promoting community-based initiatives are crucial in improving flood resilience and response capacity. The study highlights key community coping strategies, including maintaining flood warning systems, integrating local knowledge with modern preparedness mechanisms, organizing community clean-ups, strengthening disaster education and advocating for long-term flood prevention policies.