New Straits Times 11 Oct 13;
ALL READY: Fire and Rescue Department conducts basic boat and jet-ski handling course for firemen and volunteer firemen
MUAR: JOHOR Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) is fully prepared to face the flood season which is expected to occur anytime from now until March next year.
Its director Datuk Ab Ghani Daud said there was a National Security Council (MKN) state-level meeting recently to discuss the issue.
"The department was informed that although the state receives low rainfall, there is a risk that there could still be floods due the current weather change," he said during the closing ceremony of basic boat and jet-ski handling course here recently.
He said the rainfall is expected to be scattered evenly in the state during the rainy season but a prolonged downpour would result in floods.
Also present were JBPM state operation division deputy director Mohd Rizal Buang and firemen training division deputy director Raja Saiful Iswandy Raja Hassan.
Ghani said although the weather is fine, the department hopes that there will be no big floods like in 2006.
He also said that the training course would be held regularly to prepare firemen in handling the flood situation.
"The training is aimed at equipping firemen as well as volunteer firemen in rescuing flood victims. The course would also test all the communication gadgets.
"This is also aimed at updating the Emergency Action Plan for all agencies," he said.
Ghani said the training would include simulations of rescue operations.
In the tail-end of 2006, Johor was hit by one of the worst flooding in history with the water level reaching 29cm on Dec 19.
Kota Tinggi and Segamat were the worst-hit areas with both towns totally inaccessible by land.
The flood waters inundated homes and damaged most electrical items. Many victims were evacuated.
A second wave of flood came unexpectedly on the third week of January 2007, flooding eight districts of the state. This time around, the worst-hit towns were Kluang and Batu Pahat.
Both calamities caused the government a loss of some RM1.5 billion and were considered the costliest floods in Malaysian history.
Read more: Well prepared to face floods - Johor - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/streets/johor/well-prepared-to-face-floods-1.373070#ixzz2hPL3sbYj
