Semarang City's Flood Risk: A Threat to Human Security

Abstract

Flood is a natural hazard because it has the potential of natural disasters. Floods threaten human security, as in the socio-political, economic, and environmental aspects. Natural phenomena in the form of flood that routinely occur in Semarang City during the rainy season, can be considered a disaster if it affects humans and the environment. As a downstream area, Semarang City becomes an abundance of water from the rivers; resulting in flood in the rainy season. The condition is worsened with the characteristics of Semarang City, which makes rainfall in the upstream area to flow downstream rapidly. The community in Semarang City has not been freed from the threat of flood, especially those living in the lower regions. The unique characteristics of Semarang area which consists of highland and lowland and adjacent to the sea, makes Semarang prone to flood. When there is still fear of flood disaster threat around in Semarang, human security still have to be pursued. This study is conducted to find out the cause of high risk of flood disaster in Semarang City, especially from 2013 until 2015. This study also aims to explains how flood as a disaster could damage human security in Semarang City as well and therefore suggest how the government of Semarang City should treat the threat of flood wisely.

Keywords

• flood
• disaster
• human security
• Semarang