(Kuching, 7th) In view of the expected continuous heavy rainfall over the next one to two months, the Sarawak government has ramped up the readiness of various departments as well as all divisional and district disaster management committees to prevent more severe floods.
Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas stated that the experience in responding to this week's floods provided the authorities with valuable lessons, especially in the operation and management of temporary evacuation centers (PPS).
He said that during the incident, a total of 10 temporary evacuation centers were activated in Kuching, and the overall management was satisfactory.
"As of now, we are very satisfied with the management performance of all the evacuation centers in Kuching during the recent floods." He made this remark on Tuesday, January 6, after chairing the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) meeting at Wisma Bapa Malaysia.
As SDMC Chairman, Douglas pointed out that the authorities have identified several areas for improvement, including developing a more systematic checklist for evacuation operations, ensuring adequate food and basic supplies, conducting health screenings by the health department, and carrying out mosquito fogging by local authorities as a preventive measure against dengue fever.
He added that all evacuation centers must be well-equipped with complete facilities and maintained in good condition to ensure the comfort and wellbeing of evacuees.
"Our goal is to ensure that these evacuation centers provide a comfortable environment. The evacuees are already in a difficult situation, and we do not wish to make it worse for them due to poor management," he said.
Douglas also urged residents living in high-risk flood zones to remain vigilant and to follow evacuation instructions issued by the authorities.
"When receiving evacuation instructions, be sure to leave immediately, because our top priority is to ensure your safety," he emphasized.
He added that the police have assured the committee that patrols and surveillance of unoccupied residential areas will be stepped up during evacuations, in order to protect residents’ property.
Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas stated that the experience in responding to this week's floods provided the authorities with valuable lessons, especially in the operation and management of temporary evacuation centers (PPS).
He said that during the incident, a total of 10 temporary evacuation centers were activated in Kuching, and the overall management was satisfactory.
As SDMC Chairman, Douglas pointed out that the authorities have identified several areas for improvement, including developing a more systematic checklist for evacuation operations, ensuring adequate food and basic supplies, conducting health screenings by the health department, and carrying out mosquito fogging by local authorities as a preventive measure against dengue fever.
He added that all evacuation centers must be well-equipped with complete facilities and maintained in good condition to ensure the comfort and wellbeing of evacuees.
"Our goal is to ensure that these evacuation centers provide a comfortable environment. The evacuees are already in a difficult situation, and we do not wish to make it worse for them due to poor management," he said.
Douglas also urged residents living in high-risk flood zones to remain vigilant and to follow evacuation instructions issued by the authorities.
"When receiving evacuation instructions, be sure to leave immediately, because our top priority is to ensure your safety," he emphasized.
He added that the police have assured the committee that patrols and surveillance of unoccupied residential areas will be stepped up during evacuations, in order to protect residents’ property.