KKLW agencies to carry out simulation exercises as preparation to face bigger floods

TEMERLOH: All agencies under the Rural and Regional Development Ministry (KKLW), as well as Village Security and Development Committees, have been instructed to be in the state of preparedness by carrying out simulation exercises to face floods on a bigger scale in the future.
Its minister, Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal, said the extraordinary floods which hit several states in the country this year, should be taken as a lesson to be more prepared in the future and to reduce the victims' levels of suffering due to the disaster.
"We must take a lesson from the floods so that we can be prepared with a more proper system.
"The challenge that awaits us is to face the uncertainty of global weather patterns just like in any other countries and I'm confident that the uncertain weather condition will persist for quite some time.
"So, we have to be in the state of preparedness, do what we can to reduce the victims' levels of suffering," he told reporters presenting RM60,000 worth of relief aid from Yayasan Mara to students from families affected by the recent floods in Kampung Bintang and Kampung Teluk Ira here today.
Mohd Shafie said agencies under the ministry, such as the Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (Risda) and South Kelantan Development Authority (Kesedar), as well as other corridor development agencies, would carry out the simulation exercise using the standard operating procedures before the next disaster hit.
"For example, we know floods usually hit in December, we will propose that the simulation exercises to evacuate victims to settlements on higher ground to be done before that, while community leaders will be asked to undergo training for a week or two on how to evacuate villagers from their houses according to instructions.
"We have to empower the villagers, not only in terms of capability and mindset, but also in terms of evacuation structure," he said.
Meanwhile, Mohd Shafie said losses suffered by the ministry during the floods, including damaged building, rural roads, community halls, KEMAS kindergartens, hardcore poor housing projects, were estimated at RM200 million. – Bernama