Behavioral Determinants of Flood Preparedness: A SEM-PLS Analysis of Communities along the Ciliwung River, Indonesia

This study aimed to assess the level of flood preparedness among communities residing along the Ciliwung River and to identify the key factors influencing their readiness. Using a quantitative approach, data were collected through structured questionnaires and analyzed with Structural Equation Modeling–Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS) to examine the relationships between preparedness dimensions and influencing variables. The findings indicate that community flood preparedness is predominantly categorized as moderate (50%) and high (44.29%). Pre-disaster preparedness is mainly moderate (57.14%), intra-disaster preparedness is both moderate (38.57%) and high (34.29%), while post-disaster preparedness is largely high (68.57%). The analysis reveals that only attitudes and resource mobilization significantly influence flood preparedness, whereas knowledge exhibits a negative effect, and emergency plans, early warnings, and experience show no significant impact. Based on these results, the study recommends developing a behavior-based, environmentally conscious model of flood preparedness that fosters awareness-driven readiness rather than compliance-based action. Future research should investigate the mechanisms linking knowledge to action, considering the influence of social norms, cultural practices, and contextual factors, to design targeted and community-specific interventions for flood-prone areas.