Local Wisdom and Religious Beliefs in Tsunami Preparedness in the Digital Era: A Case Study of Coastal Communities in Pacitan, Indonesia

Coastal communities in Pacitan, East Java, Indonesia, face tsunami hazards that require disaster preparedness approaches responsive to local social and cultural contexts. Local wisdom and religious beliefs may shape how communities understand disaster risks and preparedness. This study compares community-reported knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to local wisdom and religious beliefs in the context of tsunami preparedness. A mixed-methods case study was conducted involving 328 questionnaire respondents from four coastal urban villages and seven informants. Data were collected through questionnaires, field observations, in-depth interviews, and documentation. Questionnaire responses were analysed descriptively, while qualitative information provided contextual insights into community perspectives and practices. The findings indicate that 95.4% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that they knew local stories or myths related to disasters. Regarding religious beliefs, 99.1% agreed or strongly agreed that disasters are part of God's decree and that making efforts to address disasters is important. However, 95.1% disagreed or strongly disagreed that they had received disaster-related material through religious activities, while 97.0% reported not participating in religious activities addressing disaster preparedness. These findings highlight a distinction between reported local knowledge and religious beliefs, on the one hand, and participation in organised disaster preparedness education through religious activities, on the other. The study suggests that local wisdom and religious beliefs should be considered as distinct but potentially complementary dimensions in community-based tsunami preparedness initiatives. Although digital media may offer additional opportunities for disseminating disaster-related information, this study did not directly assess digital device ownership, platform usage, or frequency of access. Future preparedness initiatives may therefore consider locally grounded approaches and the potential role of digital communication, while further research is needed to evaluate its contribution to community preparedness.