KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 15 — Members of the public need to be adequately prepared in the event of a flood emergency, said safety activist Balasupramaniam Krishnan.
Balasupramaniam, popularly known as Captain Bala, said the ongoing monsoon season may cause continuous heavy rain, which could result in rivers overflowing, and advised the public to be familiar with their respective areas.
“Get to know and be familiar with the area you are living in; if any rivers are nearby, they might overflow due to monsoon rain. Establish a group in your housing area to monitor any unsafe situations or flood-prone areas, and keep up with the news for any updates regarding the weather and flood occurrences.
“When the rain is full, you must be ready to evacuate. Be aware of any higher grounds closest to your living area,” he said when responding as an interviewee on Bernama TV’s The Nation programme titled ‘Flood Relief and Prepping for the Rainy Month Ahead’ today.
Balasupramaniam also advised people to always prepare a waterproof emergency or runaway bag containing medications, phone chargers, a torchlight and towels, among other basic necessities.
“Before leaving the house, remember to unplug all electrical sources, shut the main power supply and close all doors and windows. These are minimum steps to do during a flood emergency,” he said.
Balasupramaniam added that no one can be an action hero in a flood situation as everyone, including flood aid volunteers, must work together and complement each other in a post-flood recovery effort.
“Be a partner, collaborate, participate, get involved. Do not just watch and make comments because it is time to go down and help.
“When flood victims get back home, they have nothing left but only a mud-covered house. We need to lend a hand to restore the house back to its livable condition,” he said.
Meanwhile, Balasupramaniam advised flood aid volunteers to also watch out for their personal safety and to possess knowledge of nearby facilities for where they were deployed to do a better job of helping flood victims.
Volunteers must move in groups and make their presence known in the vicinity to ensure people do not mistake them for looters.
“Plan the rescue mission well to ensure one does not become a burden to others,” he said.
— Bernama
