PUTRAJAYA: The authorities are preparing well in advance and on a big scale to respond effectively if the expected heavier rainfall over the next two months brings any disaster.
The logistics alone: 1,775 rescue boats, 20 helicopters and 13 units of Bailey bridges are ready for use.
A total 4,595 evacuation centres had been prepared and 1,182 health personnel were on standby, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
“I would like to assure the public that the authorities are well prepared should there be floods,” he told reporters after chairing the Management and Disaster Relief Committee meeting yesterday.
Najib said the equipment needed for rescue and relief work would be sent to the flood prone and low-lying areas soon.
“Once the water level rises, the equipment will already be there instead of having people wait for it to be sent after floods have hit,” he said, adding that the public should not worry about aid such as food as there would be sufficient supply.
Other measures include ordering the Drainage and Irrigation Department to continue deepening the riverbeds as well as directing government-owned media organisations to frequently flash out weather information.
Najib said floods would be unavoidable as calculations by the Meteorological Department had predicted a heavier-than-usual rainfall from next month until January.
Najib said the Government was alerting the public on the possibility of floods to give them time to be prepared, including for evacuations.
Source : The Star
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