Bracing For Monsoonal Floods. - By: M.E.Reza

Even though Malaysia is comparatively safe being outside the “Pacific Rim of Fire” and away from threats of earthquakes, typhoons, and volcanic eruptions, the country still had its share of extreme climatic events mainly freaky thunderstorms and monsoonal floods. In late 2006, Typhoon Utor dumped 350 mm of rain within 24 hours in southern Peninsular Malaysia causing massive floods considered to be the worst in the southern region history. The second wave came soon after in January 2007 and in the state of Johore between 60,000 and 70,000 people were evacuated. The flood disaster of 2006-2007 was considered as the costliest flood in Malaysian history with losses estimated to be about RM 1.5 billion. The floods which hit not only Peninsular Malaysia, but also Sabah (east Malaysia) and Sumatra (Indonesia) were considered to be the worst in 100 years resulting in evacuation of over 100,000 people in the worst-hit state of Johore at its peak.

Given such experience, the Malaysian authorities give emphasis to disaster
risks reduction and development of disaster management capabilities in the various areas of disaster prevention, mitigation, response and recovery. Its inevitable then, as the seasonal rains loom nearer, the potential consequences of the emerging extreme climatic patterns becomes a priority issue in the deliberations of the National Security Council.

A review of the emergency preparedness measures instituted prior to the rainy season will shed light on the disaster mechanisms set into place by the Malaysian authorities. Two months ahead of the annual flooding, the Malaysian government already announced plans for massive evacuations should the situation warrant it. The announcement outlined preparations to accommodate tens of thousands of evacuees ahead of forecast flooding in several states. During the monsoon season of December 2008-January 2009, very soon after the meteorological department’s forecast of unusually high rainfall, the authorities set up a total of 4,595 flood evacuation centres. A total of 1,775 boats and 20 helicopters were set aside for rescue work in areas usually affected by annual flooding. 1,183 health and medical teams were then placed on standby. (i)

Emergency preparedness for the rainy season cover placing firefighters and civil defence personnel on standby for landslides and floods, fully geared to support relief operations should disaster strike. Civil defence personnel in Malaysia stand at 642,000 and this number is deemed sufficient to provide relief work as necessary. (ii) The disaster management mechanism entails an integrated response plan involving both the police and the Fire and Rescue Department in addition to those services and auxiliary arms of the government. The latter manned by 15,000 firefighters could mobilize 300 boats and 24 trained dogs for search and rescue efforts. Talk about preparations, some of the dogs has been trained to search for drowning victims by sniffing the water surface.

Capacity for immediate disaster response in handling these weather calamities remain a critical factor. In the affected areas, whenever floods occur, it happens very fast, the water level rising rapidly. Should emergency preparedness assets not in place when flood occurs, the whole area would be completely marooned. Tens of thousands of people living in the coastal areas are forced to be evacuated to temporary shelters every year during the floods. During the 2008 floods more than 34,000 people were displaced with the death toll at 28. The Malaysian government spent US$18.5 million in flood relief operations during the 2008 monsoon season.

In the most recent exercise towards the end of 2009, the National Security Council placed a total of 48 helicopters, the majority belonging to the armed forces, and 105 rescue boats on standby for immediate mobilizations in rescue operations particularly in flood affected areas. The national authorities through its central disaster management and relief committee established an operations centre to monitor the flood situation, and notably coordinate evacuation of flood victims. The rescue boats were dispatched to states expected to be hit with serious floods. The boats provided by the National Security Council supplement bigger crafts already made available by the armed forces, the Fire and Rescue department, police and other agencies , including voluntary organizations.(iii)

For the 2009 flood preparations, the Malaysian government spent RM129
million including purchase of the rescue boats. A substantial amount of the nation’s budget had been allocated for flood mitigation projects in some state notably Kedah and Penang. In anticipation of the floods, 4,744 relief centres were identified to be opened should the situation warrants it, with the capacity to accommodate about 1.27 million people.
The whole system and mechanisms involved in bracing the country for the challenges of natural disasters involved array of players, efforts, and factors called into play to ensure that measures for prevention, mitigation, response and recovery are fully coordinated with stakeholders. Successful implementation of these measures impact on the efficiency and effectiveness of the disaster management programme and instrumental in reducing risks and impact of the hazards concerned.

References:-

(i) BERNAMA. Malaysia Prepares for massive evacuations ahead of annual flooding. November 7, 2009.
(ii) The Star. Petaling Jaya. Firefighters and Rela put on standby for landslides and floods. Saturday November 7, 2009.
(iii) The Star. Kuala Lumpur. Helicopters, boats put on standby for flood rescue. Friday December 4.2009.

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