Malaysia: Johor state prepared for flood season

New Straits Times 31 Oct 13;

COME HIGH WATER: Johor Civil Defence Department has the manpower and gear to weather expected storms

JOHOR BARU: THE Johor Civil Defence Department (JPAM) is geared up to meet possible year-end floods with a staff strength of 1,000, including volunteers.

JPAM deputy director Mohd Zulkhairi Bin Shamsudin said JPAM personnel had undergone training to rescue flood victims and render first aid to the injured on the ground.

"Our personnel have been taught to give priority to pregnant women, the elderly and children in a rescue operation.

"The department has always worked closely with the Johor State Welfare Department (JKM), state drainage and irrigation department as well as non-governmental organisations and related government agencies during emergency operations," he said.

"We do not have to worry much about manpower as the staff of the respective district offices and local residents are ever ready to assist us in any way during an emergency."

JPAM has 27 boats comprising aluminium and rigid boats.

"Each aluminium boat can ferry six or seven passengers while the rigid boat can accommodate more.

"We have nine lorries and nine four-wheel vehicle to ferry victims to the evacuation centres," he said.

Zulkhairi said the flood-prone areas were Batu Pahat, Muar and Kota Tinggi while the rivers are Sungai Skudai and Sungai Tebrau, both in Johor Baru, Sungai Muar (Muar) Sungai Sedili (Kota Tinggi), Sungai Benut (Pontian) and Sungai Endau (Endau), among others.

JKM has established 649 evacuation centres in 10 districts in preparation of the expected floods.

Meanwhile, it was reported the Johor Fire and Rescue Services Department was also fully prepared for the flood season, which is any time from now until March next year.

Its director Datuk Ab Ghani Daud had said that although the state had low rainfall, there was a risk of floods because of prevalent weather changes.

Ghani said rainfall was expected to be evenly scattered throughout the state during the rainy season but a prolonged downpour could result in floods.

From Dec 18, 2006, to Jan 13, 2007, a series of floods wreaked havoc in parts of Johor.
In the tail-end of 2006, the state was hit by one of the worst floods in history, with the water level reaching 29cm on Dec 19.

Kota Tinggi and Segamat were the worst-hit with both towns becoming completely inaccessible by land.

Flood waters inundated and damaged homes and property. Many victims were evacuated.

A second wave of floods hit unexpectedly on the third week of January 2007. Eight districts were flooded. This time around, the worst-hit towns were Kluang and Batu Pahat.

The two calamities caused the government some RM1.5 billion and are considered the costliest floods in Malaysian history.