Five states to be worst hit

The Star, Friday October 12, 2012

Reports by LOH FOON FONG, EMBUN MAJID, FARIK ZOLKEPLI, A. RUBAN and HAN KAR KAY

 

Monsoon reign: Dark clouds looming over Terengganu’s iconic Crystal Mosque in this picture taken from the Pulau Kambing jetty in Kuala Terengganu yesterday afternoon. — ZABIDI TUSIN / The Star

SPECIAL REPORT

 

PETALING JAYA: The full force of the northeast monsoon is expected to lash five states next month and the people are warned to be prepared for heavy flooding.

The Department of Irrigation and Drainage said the monsoon was expected to hit the east coast and several other parts of the country and flooding would occur mainly in Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Perak, Johor, Sabah and Sarawak, between November and March.

Its Hydrology and Water Resources Division director Datuk Hanapi Mohamad Noor noted that the average annual rainfall was 3,000mm, and added: “With 1,800mm registered from January to September, 1,200mm more is expected from October to December which is a lot.”

Hanapi said flooding would happen if one month's amount of rainfall poured continuously for one to three days in the same area.

From October last year till last month, 227 cases of flooding were reported, with Selangor being the most hit with 70, followed by Perak with 40.

Hanapi said Selangor had more flooding because it was “exposed” to the southwest monsoon rains, the northeast monsoon rains and convectional rain. He also said Kuala Lumpur would face flash floods from mid-November to March, but the cause would be convectional rain.

A rainfall of more than 100mm per day was enough to cause flooding in urban areas but not in in rural or forested areas, Hanapi added.

He said the DID would use data from satellites, radars and the Global Forecast System to warn of floods.
Meteorological Department director-general Che Gayah Ismail said that El Nino was not expected to have any significant impact on rainfall during the monsoon season and the whole country was expected to receive normal average rainfall.

“However, three or four episodes of heavy rain are expected and in each, two to three days' non-stop rain will end in floods,” she said in an e-mail.

She urged the public to be “sensitive to current weather conditions” and heed the department's warnings.
Che Gayah said they could also go to http://www.facebook.com/malaysiamet, http://www.twitter.com/malaysianmet or www.met.gov.my.

The Weather Forecast Centre operates round the clock and can be reached at 03-79678116.

Relief centres can hold a million victims

PETALING JAYA: The 5,068 flood relief centres nationwide are ready for operations and can accommodate 1.3 million people, Social Welfare Department principal assistant director Ahmad Hashim Selamat said.

These centres were sited in schools and community centres, he said.

Five regional depots would store food and other items such as blankets and mats, he said at the National Forum on Climate: The Northeast Monsoon yesterday.

Ahmad said that 2,474 volunteers had been briefed and given training on their tasks at relief centres.

For this year, federal funding of RM1.25mil had been allocated for cleaning kits and hygiene kits while another RM10.1mil would be given to states for food and other necessities, he said.

Meteorological Department director-general Che Gayah Ismail said the northeast monsoon would usually hit the east coast and southern part of the peninsula, the coast of Sarawak and east coast of Sabah in stages, starting from Kelantan and Terengganu next month and early December.

It would then hit the east of Pahang and Johor in December and early January and Sabah and Sarawak in January and February, she said in her speech.

Last year, there were five episodes of heavy rain where two were strong on Nov 19 and Dec 17 and affected Johor, Pahang, Sabah and Sarawak and displaced 15,000 victims and left seven dead, said Che Gayah.

Marine and Oceanography director Lim Zhe Hui said that an advisory on strong winds and rough seas would be given four days before an incident and a warning three days ahead.

The first category of advisory/warning is given for small boats, recreational boats and sea sports to stop operation when wind speed reaches 40 to 50km per hour and the wave at 3.5m, he said.

The shipping line and ferry services would be warned when the wind speed reaches 50 to 60km an hour and wave hits 4.5m while all fishing and work at oil rig should stop when wind speed reaches 60km an hour and wave above 4.5m.

On health preparation, health medical officer Dr Rozlan Ishak said officers would carry out health checks at all relief sites.

During disasters, the Health Ministry would set up mobile clinics and doctors would be sent to treat injuries as well as monitor water-born diseases, he said, adding that health inspectors would also inspect surrounding area for mosquitoes.

Crisis Relief Squad of MCA national chief Datuk Dr Lee Hong Tee said they had 600 volunteers who would assist victims by sending them to relief centres.

“The volunteers will also help send the victims home and clean up their houses after the floods.

We are ready to face the floods, says Nazri

KUALA TERENGGANU: Terengganu, Kelantan, Kedah, Sabah and Sarawak are expected to be the worst-hit during the monsoon season which starts next month, Central Disaster Management committee chairman Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said.

“We have instructed all agencies to be well prepared with logistical supplies such as boats as well as food rations.”

For Terengganu, Nazri said big floods were expected between Nov 14 and 19 as well as between Nov 27 and 30.

“We hope people can take note of the dates and be prepared for the worst,” he said.

Speaking to reporters after chairing the Terengganu Disaster Management committee meeting here, he said the committee had prepared 353 relief centres in Terengganu which could accommodate 49,052 people.

“The Welfare Department will also be supplying 15 mobile toilets for the relief centres,” he said.

Nazri said the Terengganu Welfare Department had identified 110 front-line bases which would be equipped with supplies such as food and blankets.

“Each base will be able to supply food to a centre for three days.”

He also announced that flood victims who refused to move to relief centres would be required to fill up an “anti-fraud” form to receive aid.

“We have received numerous complaints about such fraud previously, so we want to make sure only deserving recipients get the aid.”

For more information, check http://etindakan.terengganu.gov.my or http://portalbanjir.mkn.gov.my.

In ALOR SETAR, the monsoon season is expected to hit Kedah, Perlis and Penang soon.

“We have earmarked several low-lying areas that need to be monitored closely. They are Padang Terap, Kubang Pasu, Pendang, Pokok Sena and Kota Setar.

“We need to be prepared as the floods could be much worse than those in 2010 or it could last much longer this time around,” said Kedah Civil Defence Department operation coordinator officer Saifuddin Abdullah.
Perlis Civil Defence Department director Ishak Md Radzi said Titi Tinggi, Kampung Bakau and Pengaras were flood-prone areas.

“We will be carrying out regular inspection at main rivers,” he said.

As for PENANG, its state Fire and Rescue Department director Azmi Tamat said 250 firefighters were on standby to help evacuate victims.

“We have also conducted checks on the rescue equipment,” he added.

Penang Water Supply Corporation corporate affairs manager K. Jeya-balan said efforts had been taken to reduce water level at Air Itam dam following a spillover on Oct 5 due to heavy rains.

State exco in charge of flood mitigation Law Choo Kiang said all relevant departments had been instructed to carry out maintenance works especially in flood-prone areas such as the Sungai Pinang river bank, Jalan P. Ramlee, Kampung Masjid and Kampung Dodol.