Chow (far right) observing operations at the new State Disaster Command Centre in George Town. — ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star
A TOTAL of 53 areas in Penang have been identified as flood hotspots, based on incidents recorded over the past three years.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the state government would focus on prevention and mitigation efforts in these areas to reduce the impact of floods on residents and property.
“Only areas that recorded floods more than three times in the past three years have been listed as hotspots.
“With these, we can identify where to focus our resources for effective prevention,” he said.
Ten hotspots are located in the northeast district, 13 in the south-west, six in North Seberang Perai, 18 in Central Seberang Perai and six in South Seberang Perai.
The state has also prepared 389 temporary evacuation centres across Penang to accommodate victims in the event of a disaster, Chow said after launching the State Disaster Command Centre (SDCC) in Komtar, George Town.
The centre is a joint initiative between National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) and Penang government to strengthen disaster response and coordination.
Chow said Penang would allocate RM750,000 to support the centre’s operations and coordination activities.
“This is the main coordination centre. When the Meteorological Department issues a weather warning two or three days ahead, SDCC will activate the highest level of preparedness and coordinate rescue actions on the ground.”
He said SDCC integrated real-time data from various agencies, including Drainage and Irrigation Department, local councils, police, Fire and Rescue Department as well as Public Works Department, to enable rapid decision-making.
“Each agency has its own monitoring systems – flood sensors, river level indicators, and closed-circuit TV feeds – and all these are channelled to SDCC for better coordination and faster response.”
He added that the centre also used digital monitoring systems and early-warning technology to track conditions on the ground and provide alerts on possible floods or landslides.
Chow said flood incidents in Penang had declined this year compared to previous years.
“As of October, there were no major floods reported.
“From the RM2mil allocated for flood aid, only RM270,000 has been spent,” he said.
He added that two districts recorded zero flood incidents this year, showing the effectiveness of ongoing prevention measures.
Penang is continuing with 14 flood-mitigation projects worth about RM1bil, most of which are federally funded, which Chow said would help lessen the impact of flooding in hotspot areas and improve the state’s capacity to deal with unpredictable weather.
The launch of SDCC, he said, marked another step towards ensuring more coordinated, technology-driven and responsive disaster management in Penang.
He also urged residents to remain vigilant and heed official warnings during the current monsoon transition period.
“With better coordination, technology and public awareness, we can limit the damage caused by floods and protect lives more effectively,” he said.
