Preparedness of the Emergency Response Team in Cilegon City for Industrial Disaster

The purpose of this research is to conduct an evaluation on the preparedness of the emergency response team during the emergency response phase in the case of an industrial disaster causing technology failure in Cilegon city. Technology failure as a result of natural disaster, along with the resulting complex consequences, is known as industrial disaster. The research was conducted on the basis of interviews, focus group discussions, and a literature review. The research location was Cilegon city (with an administrative area of 17,550 ha), and the study focused on the potential of any natural disaster—including flooding, extreme weather, forest fires, landslides, earthquakes, tsunamis, or extreme wave and volcano eruptions—to cause catastrophic technology failure resulting in fires, explosions, oil spillages, or leakage of gas or toxic substances. In Cilegon city, there is a high probability of industrial disasters with an impact level of 5. Currently, Cilegon has approximately 84 industrial plants, the largest one being a petrochemical plant and manufacturer of chemicals, which is likely to produce hazardous and toxic materials. Industrial disaster response requires the competency and suitability of officers, facilities, and an incident command system led by local government, TNI, the police, Basarnas (the National Search and Rescue Agency in the Republic of Indonesia), domestic companies, and non-government organizations. A full review of the competencies, facilities, human resources, communication systems, and incident command system is necessary to ascertain whether a reliable response can be initiated in the case of industrial disasters, particularly those caused by chemical factors, in order to reduce the exposure of the people of Cilegon city to their effects.