A total of 20 rafts will be jointly built by KDRN, CREST and Caritas Penang to help residents in flood-prone areas safeguard their belongings during disasters.
PASIR MAS: Twenty rafts will be jointly built by the Kelantan Disaster Relief Network (KDRN), Crisis Relief Services and Training (CREST) and Caritas Penang as part of efforts to help residents in flood-prone areas safeguard their belongings and mitigate losses during disasters.
CREST executive director Dr Yoong Sao Chin said the initiative is a continuation of an earlier project that involved the construction of 52 rafts for use by residents in Rantau Panjang, an area frequently affected by floods.
He said the 12-foot x 12-foot rafts have a load capacity of up to 1,350 kilogrammes, enabling families to place electrical appliances and essential items on the platform as water levels rise.
“This initiative aims to help residents save electrical equipment and property during floods. Apart from protecting belongings, the rafts also have the potential to save lives in emergency situations,” he told reporters at the raft construction programme in Kampung Geretak Anak Buaya here today.
According to Dr Yoong, most residents will relocate to relief centres during floods but have no choice but to leave their belongings behind, which are subsequently damaged by floodwaters.
Meanwhile, he expressed appreciation to the Civil Defence Force (APM) for channelling information on residents in need of raft assistance.
Aid recipient Ibrahim Mat Zin, 55, said the recent flood that inundated his village, with water levels reaching around 12 feet, had left nearly all electrical appliances in his home damaged, including the refrigerator and washing machine.
“My house has been hit by major floods three times. With this raft, we can move our belongings to a safer place and reduce losses when floods occur,” he said.
Nor Faizah Mohd Asri, 30, another aid recipient, said the initiative has given residents peace of mind, with greater confidence that they can better safeguard their belongings should their area be hit by floods again.
