Important to know what to do to be safe

MALAYSIA and other countries in the Western Pacific region are currently experiencing the La Nina phenomenon.

This weather pattern brings stronger easterly winds to the South-East Asia region, resulting in more moisture and more intense rainfall than usual.

Although weather experts have said that this year’s La Nina is mild currently, there is no guarantee its intensity won’t change from time to time – and La Nina can continue for a year.

So Malaysia can expect more rain from now until December, possibly stretching until March next year. This weather pattern will impact the country’s northern and western coast states in Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak, and western Sabah.

The National Security Council and Nasional Disaster Management and Relief Committee, two federal bodies responsible for drawing up guidelines and directives on managing disasters, should be well prepared to face floods and other natural disasters.

Together with the Department of Irrigation and Drainage, the Housing Department, municipal and local councils, the army, police and the Health Ministry, they must remain alert and be prepared to be deployed at any time.

With floods and massive torrents now becoming more common, the authorities must not be caught off guard and expect unexpected flash floods in urban areas too.

Facing disasters in urban areas is more complicated than in rural heartlands as it involves higher levels of population density.

As such, the authorities cannot wait until disaster strikes. Instead, they must be preemptive, prepared and ready to be deployed at all times.

Malaysians are also too dependent on the government for help, especially during a disaster.

We have to change this mindset. Facing a disaster is not just the job of government agencies. The community, too, has a role to play and should be prepared for any eventuality.

The government can educate people, so there is an awareness at the community level when responding to disasters, especially in anticipating such situations.

We must learn to be self-reliant for the first 24 to 48 hours during a disaster while waiting for aid to arrive.

Managing disasters is not just the government’s job; it’s also the responsibility of every one of us to ensure we know what to do to be safe.

For long-term preparedness, the government is working on building resilience in various areas to withstand extreme events as the climate crisis affects weather patterns, including La Nina.

One of the most important ways of mitigating weather effects is ensuring our forests are kept as intact as possible to help absorb high rainfalls and stop rivers from overflowing.

Living in balance with nature is the best way to mitigate disasters now and in the future.