In brief
The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) issued a circular detailing eight preparedness measures for the 2026/2027 rainy season, urging local administrators to map risk zones, ready resources, monitor weather, coordinate across sectors, educate communities, and conduct physical mitigation. The steps come as meteorological forecasts predict widespread flooding, landslides, and high waves. BNPB’s Acting Head for Disaster Data emphasized the importance of early action to safeguard lives and property.
In Jakarta, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) released a circular today that lists eight measures for local governments to prepare for the forthcoming 2026/2027 rainy season—a period that the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) forecasts will bring severe hydrometeorological hazards across the Indonesian archipelago.
Berton Panjaitan, BNPB’s Acting Head for Disaster Data, Information, and Communication, explained that the measures were devised in response to BMKG’s prediction that most parts of the country will experience the rainy season from late 2026 into early 2027, potentially triggering floods, landslides, strong winds, and high waves.
"These anticipatory measures were taken based on the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG)’s forecast that most parts of Indonesia will enter the rainy season in late 2026 to early 2027, with the potential to trigger floods, landslides, strong winds, and high waves," he said.
He described the circular as the first policy directive under BNPB Head Circular Letter Number 4 of 2026, signed by BNPB Head Kristomei Sianturi on 30 October 2026. The policy calls for governors, district heads, and mayors nationwide to act quickly and in a coordinated manner to save lives and reduce property damage.
First, the circular directs regional administrations to produce risk maps that identify hydrometeorological disaster‑prone areas. The mapping should rely on documented risk assessments, contingency plans, the InaRISK portal, and the Indonesian Disaster Information Data Portal (DIBI). According to the Indonesian-language report on the same action, the eight steps “mencakup pemetaan wilayah rawan bencana hidrometeorologi berdasarkan kajian risiko bencana, rencana kontingensi,” echoing this same emphasis on evidence‑based mapping.
Second, the guideline requires a state of readiness for personnel, equipment, and logistics. Local governments are encouraged to conduct preparedness briefings and to optimise the use of Ready‑to‑Use Funds (Harga Variabel atau DSP) when a region declares a state of emergency. This step aims to ensure that emergency forces can respond swiftly without delays caused by logistical bottlenecks.
Weather monitoring and early warning form the third and fourth measures. Regional officials must closely review periodic BMKG reports and disseminate that information to the public. The policy also commands the maintenance of 24‑hour emergency response posts and the strengthening of disaster‑management coordination through a pentahelix approach that brings together government, community, business, academia, and media.
The fifth through eighth measures move into the field. Strengthening community‑based education and outreach is highlighted, with an emphasis on independent evacuation plans and the protection of the most vulnerable groups. The circular explains that “implementing physical mitigation measures, such as clearing drainage channels and normalizing rivers,” is a critical element of this phase. BNPB further mandates regional heads, via their respective Regional Disaster Mitigation Agencies (BPBDs), to enforce these actions.
Each of the eight measures is designed to create a layered defense against the diverse risks that the rainy season poses. From identifying flood‑prone districts to securing emergency supplies and ensuring that citizens know when and how to evacuate, the plan offers a comprehensive set of steps that local governments can integrate into existing disaster‑management frameworks.
In addition to the circular’s procedural components, the BNPB message underscores the growing complexity of climate‑related hazards in Indonesia. As the country’s islands “become crescents of vulnerability…the stakes of effective preparation have never been higher,” the agency indicates, pointing to the fact that earlier preparedness is a proven life‑saving strategy.
Local government officials who have received the circular report that the measures will be tailored to their specific risk profiles. For example, coastal provinces are expected to prioritize river normalization projects, while inland regions may focus more sharply on landslide monitoring and early warning dissemination.
BNPB has pledged to monitor the implementation of these measures through a national coordination hub. The agency will collect data on risk mapping completion, resource readiness status, and the effectiveness of community outreach activities. This data will feed back into the national information system to refine future preparedness plans.
While the circular does not grant new funding, it encourages municipalities to mobilise local resources and public‑private partnerships to meet the outlined objectives. By using available budget lines and tapping into community networks, regional administrations can accelerate the concrete actions mapped out in these eight steps.
Finally, BNPB’s directive arrives ahead of a series of national drills scheduled for early 2027. The agency said the drills will test the preparedness of personnel, test early warning channels, and evaluate evacuation routes. The combination of a written policy framework and practical exercises aims to build a robust, climate‑resilient capacity across Indonesia’s diverse governance landscape.
