Marufish World of Disaster PreventionFloods: 5 things you need to do to prepare for such disasters

The Star, 20 Dec 2021

Many Malaysians are more concerned about protecting themselves from robbers and serious accidents than disasters, says Universiti Teknologi Malaysia’s Disaster Preparedness & Prevention Centre (Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology) director Dr Khamarrul Azahari Razak.

“Many people do not invest in getting flood insurance as they don’t think it’s a priority like an alarm system or added grilles. However, not many people are aware of their local risks, which include flooding or other disasters,” said Khamarrul in an email interview.

He added that disaster risk reduction is a shared responsibility in preparing ourselves for future disasters.

“Reducing the impact of disasters induced by climate change and extreme weather events is our priority. However, disasters or crises always come with new opportunities to change or improve.

“It is therefore crucial to rejuvenate our strategies to cope with future climatic risks, increasing the number of disaster preparedness programmes (community-based disaster risk management), and investing in disaster risk reduction for resilience,” he explained.

Floods hit several parts of the Klang Valley due to the constant rain that started on Dec 17. The four main rivers – Sg Batu in Sentul, Sg Klang in Jalan Tun Perak, Sg Gombak in Jalan Tun Razak and Sg Kerayong – overflowed and caused flooding in various areas including Shah Alam, Port Klang and Klang.

Several highways were closed and thousands of people had to evacuate their homes. Khamarrul thinks it is important for Malaysians to be prepared for any natural disasters as it can significantly reduce the number of deaths and economic losses.

“Future climate risk increases the number of major floods in the near future, even so in densely populated cities. With better preparedness planning and multi-scale risk communication, we can increase the level of safety, enhance business continuity and livelihood development after large-scale disaster, and (help ensure) science-based decision-making.”

In short, disasters can strike any time. Therefore, it is crucial to be prepared and have a plan in place. Here are five things you need to do to be prepared for a flood:

Stay calm

Any calamity can be worrying but try not to panic. Turn off all electrical appliances and move valuables, important documents and clothing to higher ground.

Keep a disaster supply kit

This kit should have first aid supplies, a flashlight with extra batteries, non-perishable food, drinking water, candles, matches, warm clothes, a blanket, sleeping bags and a change of clothing.

Have a plan

Develop an evacuation plan. You should know where to go if you have to evacuate.

Stay alert and updated

If there is a possibility of a flash flood, move immediately to higher ground. Remember, flash floods can occur without any warning. Follow any emergency orders given by authorities. Listen to the radio, online news portals or social media platforms for additional information.

Establish a local network

It is crucial to keep essential emergency numbers and connect to volunteers during an emergency.