‘Everybody wants happiness, and nobody wants pain, but you can’t have a rainbow without a little rain’ -stuntman and actor, Zion Lee.
Most of us all love picnics and waterfalls. But now that the Northeast Monsoon season or rainy season is officially here, let us stop going to the picnic areas and waterfalls. At least, until next March when the Northeast Monsoon season will be over.
Last Friday, outgoing Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Mohd Azman Ahmad Sapri advised the public not to engage in leisure activities at picnic areas and waterfalls during the Northeast Monsoon season.
He gave the advice during a press conference at the Sarawak Continent Police Headquartrs (IPK) in Kuching.
Mohd Azman emphasised that the police would collaborate with relevant agencies including the Forestry Department to enforce stringent control over leisure activities during the northeast season. He cited the leisure activities as climbing, camping, forest trekking, waterfall bathing and recreational pursuits.
He said that the police would also engage with the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) to control these activities, particularly during the rainy season.
Mohd Azman also advised residents, especially those living in low-lying areas, to prepare for sudden floods by safeguarding essential documents, necessities and dry food.
He said they should always remain vigilant to early disaster warnings and evacuate promptly when instructed by the authorities.
It is good for the police and relevant authorities to give such advices to the public. Prevention, as they say, is always better than cure.
In Kuala Lumpur, Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) has also advised the public to give priority to the prudent use of electrical equipment during the Northeast Monsoon.
Its Group Corporate Communications acting head, Wan Seri Rahayu Wan Mohamad Said reminded the public in a statement yesterday to turn off the main switch in their premises if flood waters started to rise and they were asked to move to a relief centre.
This advice also applies to flood evacuees in Sarawak.
Wan Seri Rahayu also listed several measures which can be taken during floods as well as during pre-and post-flood situations. And I will share them with you here.
Measures during pre-floods include moving electrical equipment to a higher level and during floods, make sure that the main switch is closed to avoid electric shock.
Do not enter flooded areas and avoid touching electrical equipment or cables submerged in flood waters even if they are coated with insulation.
Avoid touching iron poles or electric installations that are submerged in water to avoid the risk of electric shock.
Make sure all socket switches are switched off.
Wan Seri Rahayu also advised the public to charge their handphone power banks in advance so that they could use their mobile phones for communication.
What are the other safety measures to be taken during a flood?
I turned to Goggle and these are some of the answers I found:
Do not walk through flowing water. Most drownings occur during flash floods.
Don’t drive through flooded roads. Cars can be swept away in only two feet of moving water.
Do not drive around road barriers.
Seek higher ground.
If you must leave your home, do not walk through moving water.
Meanwhile, the Department of Meteorological Malaysia said continuous rain was expected to occur on the East Coast and North of the Peninsula as well as Eastern Sabah from Nov 16 -18.
It advised the public to refer to its MET Malaysia’s website at www.met.gov.my and the department’s social media accounts as well as download the ‘myCuaca’ application for the latest and authentic weather information.
I was caught in a bad flood along a popular road in Kuching City last rainy season. At first, I tried to drive through the flooded road but luckily, I chickened out at the last minute.
The next morning, someone shared with me a picture of a floating truck on that very same road!
Now that the Northeast Monsoon season is here, I wonder what it has in store for me. Will there be another big flood along that road again?
