JOHOR BARU: The Johor Civil Defence Force (APM) has made preparations to face the Northeast Monsoon, including ensuring its human resource strength and assets are adequate to deal with floods.
Johor APM director, Kamal Mokhtar, said 1,264 officers and personnel, along with 72 boats and 34 vehicles were ready to be deployed to provide assistance to affected residents.
Johor APM activated its Flood Operations Room on November 1 and has so far identified 874 flood hotspots.
"Johor APM has also implemented the 'Disaster Risk Reduction' in efforts to lessen the risk of disasters, covering the elements of training and mitigation plans. Through the 'Programme for Local Engagement Approach for Disaster and Emergency Response' (LEADER), 65,701 people have been trained.
"This programme encompasses safety lectures for residents who are at risk and safety programmes for students of primary and secondary schools as well as those from institutions of higher learning," he said in a statement today (November 8).
Kamal said that at community level, the Community-Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) programme was conducted for those in high-risk areas.
"Every household head has been advised to prepare a 'Ready to Go Bag' containing important documents, emergency clothing, medicines, torchlights, ready-to-eat food and other necessities for emergency use.
"The public has also been advised to keep track of weather conditions and be ready to be evacuated to temporary flood relief centres (PPS) if their areas are flooded," he said.
Yesterday (November 7), the Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) said the Northeast Monsoon was expected to start this Saturday (November 11) and last until March next year.
The early phase of the monsoon, expected from this month until January next year, has been forecasted to bring heavy rains to Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Johor and western Sarawak. – Bernama