SERIAN: More communities in flood-prone areas have been urged to form Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) to strengthen early response and preparedness during emergencies.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said such teams, led by village heads or community leaders, play a critical role in ensuring residents know how to respond during floods and other emergencies, particularly before government agencies arrive.
He said CERTs had been established in Kampung Krokong in Bau as well as in Serian, where trained community members were able to organise early evacuations, prepare food and manage basic coordination at temporary shelters.
“The purpose of this team is to train those led by the village head so they know what to do during an emergency – whether to evacuate or gather safely to avoid any untoward incident.
“Early preparation by the local committee ensured food was ready when evacuees arrived at temporary shelters, preventing delays while assistance was still being mobilised,” he told the media when visiting the Ranchan Hall temporary evacuation centre (PPS) here today.
Uggah, who is also the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) chairman, stressed that community-based response was especially important in remote areas, where communication and access constraints could delay the arrival of rescue agencies.
“When communication is difficult, it takes time for agencies to reach them.
“While waiting, the community must know the standard operating procedures – moving early, preparing food, conducting head counts and ensuring no one is left behind,” he said.
Uggah said such measures were crucial to prevent situations where residents remained in their homes as water levels continued to rise.
He added that disaster response efforts must involve cooperation between government agencies, community leaders and residents to ensure safety and minimise risks.
“This response to disasters must involve the whole community. We want people to be safe, and that is why we are encouraging more communities to form these teams,” he said.
Uggah also said state leaders and officials were conducting visits to affected areas to assess needs, including food supply and basic facilities, to ensure evacuees had access to essential amenities during displacement.
