KUANTAN: The implementation of a special standard operating procedure (SOP) for flood evacuees due to Covid-19 this year has prompted the state government to conduct a flood simulation exercise later this month.
State secretary Datuk Seri Dr Sallehuddin Ishak, who is also Pahang disaster management committee chairman, said the mock rescue operation will emphasise on adopting new normal practices and adhering to the SOP during evacuation, at relief centres and when returning home.
"The flood victims evacuated to Temporary Evacuation Centres (PPS) and personnel deployed at the centres will have to adopt a special set of SOPs due to the pandemic so we will run a simulation exercise to test its effectiveness. The exercise will allow further improvements to face the real scenario.
"As there are concerns of Covid-19 spreading during the monsoon season, we need to ensure everyone including the related agencies are aware of the new measures in place during the floods," he told reporters after Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail flagged off the convoy to deploy food items to forward bases in Pahang at Pasaraya Darulmakmur here today.
Sallehuddin said the state government has identified some 600 PPS in 11 districts in Pahang which can accommodate up to 46,000 evacuees in case of floods this year.
He said the state government held discussions with the National Security Council, police, health, Fire and Rescue department and other related agencies before drafting the SOPs during evacuation and at the relief centres including physical distancing.
"To avoid crowded relief centres, classrooms at schools will be utilised. We do not want everyone to gather in a crowded hall...personnel on duty will ensure the SOPs are strictly followed.
"We are finalising details on how to limit volunteers especially from high risk areas into the relief centres. During the previous floods, most of the volunteers or contributors (aid) are from the Klang Valley which has been categorised as a red zone," he said.
On food supplies, Sallehuddin said gotong royong cooking activities will not be allowed at the relief centres, instead packed food will be distributed to the evacuees.
"We will engage outsiders to prepare and supply the meals, and all food handlers will be required to undergo typhoid vaccination. This is to ensure only a certain group of people are responsible to cook the meals," he said, adding the total number of enforcement personnel on duty during this monsoon season will be finalised at the end of this week.
Sallehuddin said there might be an increase in expenditure during the floods this year of between 30 and 40 percent since the state government will have to prepare packed meals to avoid any close contact in the centres.
On early preparations, Sallehuddin said 98 tonnes of essential supplies worth RM1 million will be deployed to 118 forward bases in stages starting today.
"Food supplies will be sent to all the 11 districts and by the third week (of this month), we must be fully prepared to face the floods.
"Although all the necessary preparations have been made to face the floods, we pray that it will not happen. There were times (previous years) when we anticipated major floods but only a small group of people were evacuated," he said.
On Sunday, Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the authorities were doing the neccesary to prevent a possible Covid-19 outbreak in the east coast due to floods during the upcoming monsoon season.