Staying dry before the flood strikes
New Straits Times 31 May 09;
A ‘flood map’ has been drawn using satellite images from the worst floods to hit the nation in the last five years to help the government come up with mitigation measures, writes SONIA RAMACHANDRAN
IF you are thinking of buying your retirement home in idyllic Muar, the place of the famous "Mee Bandung", you might want to think again.
The "flood map" shows that this district is one of the flood prone areas in the country.
The map showed that Muar and Segamat were the two districts in Malaysia that were worst hit by the floods of 2007, with 19,236 hectares of land affected.
The two states that were worst hit were Johor (43,186 hectares affected) and Pahang (36,054 hectares).
The "flood map" was drawn up by the Malaysian Remote Sensing Agency and the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID).
Malaysian Remote Sensing Agency director-general Datuk Darus Ahmad said the map had been drawn using satellite images from the worst floods to hit the nation in the last five years -- that of December 2007.
DID director-general Datuk Ahmad Husaini Sulaiman said: "These maps will be updated whenever there is a flood to show new affected areas.
"Our intention is to use these maps to provide information for people developing lands like the local authorities, the town and country planning department as well as developers."
In the floods of 2007, more than 7,000 farmers incurred losses estimated at more than RM27 million.
The government spent more than RM19 million in paying out RM500 each in compassionate aid to 38,837 nationwide to help those affected.
There were 33 flood-related deaths in December that year compared with 18 during the December 2006-January 2007 flood period and 14 deaths in the November-December 2005 period.
What is the use of this map?
"This map shows areas that have been flooding. So those who want to carry out development will have this information.
"It will serve as a good guide for infrastructure development and for decisions of site suitability.
"The National Security Council could also use the maps to identify the appropriate locations for relief centres as well as how many areas and people would be affected in the event of a flood," said Darus.
It took four months to complete the flood map of the peninsula and the map was ready in early 2008.
But the areas that were flooded could be discerned with the naked eye. Why then is there a need for this map?
"Through the naked eye, we will only know the point of location of the floods. This map will show the actual area inundated by flood waters. Previously we only knew of certain locations.
"If we have similar data every year, then in five years, we will know for sure that a flood will occur in that location during a rainy season. So this map will help us anticipate that."
Darus said the map would also help detect developed areas that were in flood prone areas.
This would assist the government in coming up with the necessary mitigation measures to ensure the lives of the public were not endangered.
The map, Darus added, could be incorporated into the National Physical Plan of the Town and Country Planning Department.
"This plan will then be made public so the developer will know whether the area is suitable for development and as well as helping people to make informed decisions.
"It will also serve as a guide for the value of property."
