PETALING JAYA: Government agencies and departments have given assurance that they are ready for any eventuality associated with the upcoming northeast monsoon. According to the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma), as many as 26 engagements and simulations were carried out across disaster engagement units at all levels to increase preparedness in case of emergencies.
“Such engagements are crucial as it increases the understanding and synergies between agencies involved in disaster management efforts.
“At the same time, government ministries, agencies and departments have also been conducting their internal training sessions,” it said.
Community Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) programmes have also been carried out nationwide to increase public awareness on disasters and roles the public can play as first responders on ground zero, it said.
“From January until August this year, 155 CBDRM programmes were carried out by Nadma along with various ministries and agencies.
“This saw involvement from a total of 12,534 participants comprising community leaders, rural communities and even non-governmental organisations,” it said.
It also noted how 62,500 food kits and 127,272 C-Tent units have also been readied and distributed to the Civil Defence Force (APM), which is the State and District Disaster Management Committee Secretariat.
Separately, the Fire and Rescue Department is also monitoring some 5,427 flood-prone areas along with areas that feature rapid currents and critical slopes as part of their preparations.
Its operations director Datuk Nor Hisham Mohammad (pic) said a huge bulk of it comprised 4,987 hotspots for floods, 254 for slopes and 186 for rapid currents.
“Sarawak tops the list with more than 1,000 hotspots followed by Sabah with more than 600 hotspots, and Kelantan and Pahang with more than 500 each,” he said when contacted.
He added that flooding coupled with the high tide has already caused some floods in Sarawak, Sabah and Melaka in the past 24 hours
He said some victims have been placed at evacuation centres.
“Luckily, all these places that were flooded are within the hotspots that we have identified,” he said, adding that the department has placed all its firemen and volunteers nationwide on alert.
He added that the department is also mobilising all its assets, including more than 435 boats for rescue operations nationwide.
“We will also be using some 143 heavy vehicles, especially our trucks, to evacuate people to centres when necessary,” he said, adding that besides heavy rains, they are also monitoring tides which could result in floods.
“We will be using our four drones to carry out aerial surveillance around flood-prone areas,” he said, urging those in low-lying areas to be ready to evacuate if it continues to rain over a period of time.
He also urged the public to be wary of children near water bodies such as rivers, ponds, lakes and disused mining ponds during the monsoon season.
On Wednesday, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin said the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) are also ready to mobilise some 21,019 officers and personnel nationwide in preparation for monsoon floods.
Hamzah said the assets, including 367 boats, 845 four-wheel drive vehicles, 454 lorries and 11 aircraft, are also ready to be dispatched if needed.
“In addition, 4,367 People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela) officers and personnel, along with assets comprising 41 three-tonne lorries and 36 four-wheel drive vehicles, are also on standby,” he told Bernama at a media conference on flood operations in Bukit Aman.
Those who require more information regarding flood management can contact the PDRM Control Centre at 03-2266 3333/ 03-2266 3444/ 03-2266 3451 or MERS 999.
