Emergency planning

CHAIRMAN of the National Disaster Management Committee, the deputy prime minister, has voiced his hope that flood victims will obey any and all advice and instructions issued by the authorities, especially orders to evacuate. This is the only caveat left that can unhinge the success of flood relief management in the country. As he noted, the government has done all that is physically possible to ensure that nothing untoward happens, including, for example, making sure that the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examinations proceed without interruption, but cooperation from victims is integral if no lives are to be lost unnecessarily. This observation is truer in flood-prone areas where the annual threat is almost a given despite the already extant Integrated Flood Management approach adopted by the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) working together with other related government agencies.

Nevertheless, the start of the rainy season in recent days has shown that this time round, it might be a little different as demonstrated by the devastating flash floods occurring in areas not prone to flooding, such as Butterworth and some Klang Valley suburbs. These areas will require greater vigilance on the part of residents -- a challenging thought. And, according to the Meteorological Department, continuous rains over several days are expected to last into March next year because of a weak El Nino, a prospect that will lead to more burst low-lying river banks and overflowing suburban clogged drains. In the case of the latter, a lack of civic awareness is the culprit. Malaysians must learn that every negative action has its horrible consequence: in this respect indiscriminate waste disposal causes flash floods, sometimes severe.

However, for those in low-lying areas subject to the downpour of the northeast monsoons that have gotten worse, due partly to global environmental degradation, they confront life-threatening situations through no fault of their own. While preparedness can help prevent unnecessary loss to property, which is estimated to cost hundreds of millions every year, it, too, is the key to survival. The affected populace must have emergency contact numbers and location of the closest evacuation centres always ready at hand. They must also keep themselves informed of the imminent danger -- rising river levels, expected heavy rains and bad weather conditions in general. Towards this end, the DID has set up InfoBajir, recently upgraded to the PublicInfoBanjir website, where almost real-time information is available. For their part, flood-prone families should have emergency plans and practice flood evacuation procedures, remembering always to follow the instructions of rescuers without protest.