Enhancing Community Resilience Through Disaster-Safe Market Preparedness in Kelud Volcanic Hazard Zone

This community service program aimed to enhance disaster preparedness among market traders and stakeholders in the Kelud volcanic hazard zone through education, skills training, and evacuation simulations. The activity employed a participatory action research (PAR) approach, involving Wage Market vendors, market managers, the Blitar City Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), and the Blitar City Disaster Risk Reduction Forum (FPRB) as technical partners. The program included planning, action, observation, and reflection to develop a sustainable Disaster-Safe Market model. Initial outreach sessions provided basic disaster education, self-evacuation procedures, and first aid using counseling and audio-visual presentations. Knowledge gains were measured through pre- and post-tests, while practical skills in evacuation and first aid were trained via demonstrations and hands-on exercises using Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and evaluated with an SOP skills checklist. A miniature Wage Disaster Preparedness Market was used for table-top simulations to visualize market structure, evacuation routes, and assembly points. The final stage involved a full-scale evacuation simulation, resulting in the establishment of a Wage Market Disaster Preparedness Team. Among 30 participants, knowledge scores increased from 54.3 to 88.7, 82% achieved skilled competency in SOP-based procedures, and evacuation routes proved effective. A key outcome of this program was the establishment of a Wage Market Disaster Preparedness Team, reflecting strengthened local capacity and institutional readiness. Additionally, the use of a miniature disaster preparedness market model and full-scale simulations enhanced participants’ situational awareness and coordination during emergencies. This model demonstrates a replicable approach to community-based disaster preparedness in eruption-prone areas.