SERIAN: If the water level rises and it continues to rain during the northeast monsoon, people who live in flood-prone areas and close to riverbanks should be ready to evacuate.
Sarawak Civil Defence Force (APM) director Abdul Wahab Rahim asserted that the affected community needs to act early based on their experience and understanding in the event of an emergency.
By evacuating early, it will facilitate both their supervision at the temporary relief centres (PPSs) and the operation of the rescue team, he said.
“If we have a tendency to move early, even if it (disaster) doesn’t happen we will be safe. In that case, we can manage them because they have evacuated early.
“The needs of the PPSs have been prioritised by the State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC), the frontliners and the food base are already there. Therefore, we need the understanding of the community,” he said after officiating at the Sarawak APM northeast monsoon drill at Danu lake here, yesterday (Oct 14).
Success in disaster management, according to Abdul Wahab, depends on dwellers’ understanding, vigilance, and readiness to work together.
“They are the people who play a big part in making the process successful.
“Besides waiting to be evacuated, they already have the experience and know the area,” he said.
On the same note, he said cooperation among other agencies in disaster management is important.
“The APM as a secretariate will make an assessment as to whether immediate assistance is needed and the assistance that needs to be provided. Lack of logistics can be accommodated by other agencies.
“So far, we in Sarawak are the best in that matter, very committed and happy,” he said.
