Practices of Tsunami Evacuation Planning in Padang, Indonesia

Padang is not only the capital city of the Western Sumatra Province of Indonesia, it is also the third-biggest city in that province. It is situated along the coastline of the Indian Ocean, and it is potentially exposed to future tsunamis. Studies forecast that a tsunami hits the coast of the Padang in about 20–30 min after a tsunamigenic. However, the population density of the city is around 800,000, with about 50% living in the prone zone. This requires evacuating about 400,000 people in a concise time to a tsunami safe zone in the event of a tsunami. The evacuation of the potentially vulnerable population on time, to safe places, still remains a critical issue.

Padang has undertaken various efforts to develop local early warning systems. These activities include the implementation of legislation, the development of evacuation infrastructure, building shelters, resources for government officials and the community, and the organization of other support activities. It is recognized that the provision of all infrastructure for evacuation requires a long time, and it incurs financial constraints as Padang is economically less stable with lower revenue. In this context, this chapter explores the importance of tsunami evacuation planning in Padang and the associated approaches of the evacuation planning process.