KUALA TERENGGANU: The State has finalised its checklist for flood preparation with all related departments and agencies on standby for action to minimise losses and ease the sufferings of evacuees in affected areas.
Priority would be given to saving lives and mobilisation of assets managed by the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) with the State disaster management committee providing all the necessary support to ensure smooth flow in moving victims to evacuation centres.
State secretary Datuk Wan Nawawi Wan Ismail said all eight district offices are in a state of readiness to react to emergency calls from the usual hotspots and agencies such as the Drainage and Irrigation Department would be updating latest development on water levels from their portals.
The Public Works Department had also identified roads which may be inundated by floods and have taken measures to mark the roads and provide warning signage to alert road users on the danger and provide alternative directions if necessary.
Nawawi said coordination was necessary between the agencies led by NADMA, the village development and securities committees and volunteers from 36 non-governmental organisations which would be helping flood victims at evacuation centres.
“One of the most important things in disaster management is communication. Failure to address this issue may result in chaos in evacuation and relief efforts. I believe we have tackled this matter through simulation exercises,” he told the New Straits Times.
He added that Terengganu has its own flood management template recognised at the Federal level but he reminded that every flood has its own characteristics and every occurrence would reveal new weaknesses which need to be mitigated immediately.
“In last year’s flood, for example, we encountered the issue of sanitation at the various flood evacuation centres although it was not the worse flood. We hope our preparation to provide sanitation facilities are adequate this year,” he added.
On the number of flood evacuation centres, Wan Nawawi said the number would be similar to that of last year at 495 and would have the capacity to accommodate close to 150,000 victims, and the district offices have identified 160 forwards bases to store food and other essentials.
“We are hoping that the floods this year will not be serious. Nevertheless, we are not taking any chances when human lives are at stake,” he added.