KUALA LUMPUR: The government is rolling out early measures to tackle the year-end floods, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob today.
This, he said, included instructing the Education Ministry to convert vacant boarding school hostels into relief centres for flood victims, especially senior citizens, women and children.
He added that the Social Welfare Department had activated 6,010 evacuation centres that could house 1,620,855 people.
Ismail Sabri said this after chairing the Central Disaster Management Committee meeting, which discussed preparations for the floods from November to March.
He said heavy rains were expected to hit Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang between November and December, while Johor, Sabah and Sarawak would be hit by floods between December and January.
"A total of 79,549 personnel and rescue agency members are ready to be deployed with our assets.
"The government has mobilised 22,622 assets, comprising boats, boat trailers and jet skis.
"We agreed to activate district disaster management committees, chaired by district officers, and to empower them in flood-prone areas.
"They have an important role in conducting rescue work and despatching aid to flooded areas, while the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) and state Disaster Management committees coordinate efforts at the federal and state levels."
Ismail Sabri said the government had set aside RM2.59 million to upgrade facilities and infrastructure in evacuation centres, such as shower rooms and toilets.
"The Welfare Department should prepare meals for the first 24 hours and necessities for babies and senior citizens, such as disposable diapers.
"Nadma has distributed 59,350 food kits and 127,272 tents.
"State and district Disaster Management committees should get ready early so that aid can be distributed to all locations, especially if roads are cut off during floods.
"These committees should also ensure that early-warning systems are working.
"The siren sound should be distinguished from that of ambulance and police sirens. Authorities will make announcements about evacuations through loudspeakers."
Ismail Sabri urged people living in low-lying areas to be aware of early warnings and evacuate their homes once the authorities notify them.
The Meteorological Department of Malaysia forecasted that the country would face continuous heavy rains from mid-November, and this might lead to extensive floods at the end of the month.
The impact was expected to be more significant this time as the northeast monsoon was active at this time of the year and the La Nina phenomenon would also be present till early next year. This would add to rainfall.