“From our experiences in Sabah and previously in Sarawak, such as the incident in Baram, Sarawak, we’ve learned the importance of continuous preparedness training.”
– Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.
LAST Thursday afternoon, I was checking grocery items in a supermarket after a good lunch at a food court in Tabuan Laru when suddenly it rained heavily.
The sudden rain caught me by surprise because the weather before that was fine.
After paying for a jar of pain relief balm for joint and muscle pains, I went inside the supermarket again in the hope that the heavy rain would stop soon.
When it didn’t, I had to buy a small umbrella to get to my car which was parked just in front of the supermarket.
The irony of the situation was that I had two umbrellas in my car. I learnt a valuable lesson that day – I should always bring an umbrella with me wherever I go.
My sister, Ah Lan, agreed that was what I should do when I told her my story that night.
Apparently, I am not the only person who has to buy an umbrella when it rains unexpectedly.
When I shared my story with a friend in the office, she told me she also had to do the same thing recently.
She said after attending a church service, she decided to eat in a nearby food court before exploring a supermarket next to it.
Suddenly, it rained cats and dogs. Stranded in the supermarket, she had no choice but to buy an umbrella in order to get back to her car.
She showed me the umbrella she bought – it was bigger and thus, more expensive than the one I bought.
Instead of forking out RM10.90 for the umbrella last Thursday afternoon, I could have just dashed to my car and risked getting soaked to the skin.
Normally, that is what I will do if I am heading home. Once I’m home, I will bathe and wash my hair immediately for fear of catching cold.
But that afternoon, I was about to go to work. And I had no spare clothes in the car.
Another valuable lesson I learnt that day was the need to have a dry towel and a change of clothes in the car.
Yesterday afternoon, while I was having lunch at another food court near the MBKS Stutong Community Market, it also rained suddenly. But luckily, the rain stopped just as suddenly as it came.
Frankly speaking, I should not be surprised that it rains every day now. After all, the monsoon season in Sarawak officially begins in November and will last until February next year.
This period is characterised by heavier rainfall, which is part of the Northeast Monsoon. It is said the heaviest rainfall is usually from November to February, with January being the wettest month.
Right now, many states in Peninsular Malaysia are affected by floods.
According to one newspaper report, with the floods hitting Malaysia’s north, nearly 30,000 people in seven states have been evacuated to temporary shelters.
With the onset of the North East Monsoon, which is bringing heavy rainfall and flooding across the country, it is heartening to note that the Fire and Rescue Department in Sarawak has heightened its state of readiness.
Its state director, Jamri Masran revealed recently that Bomba Sarawak had launched a Rapid Response Team (Pasukan Gerak Cepat or PGC) to ensure swift coordinated and effective emergency response across all affected regions.
He said risk management operations had been ramped up at flood-prone zones and landslide risk areas.
Locations vulnerable to sudden water surges were also being reassessed and monitored continuously.
In Sarawak, 765 Temporary Evacuation Centres are ready to shelter more than 200,000 flood victims.
Federal Minister of Women, Family and Community Development Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri disclosed earlier this month that the government had introduced the Temporary Evacuation Centre (PPS) Management Training and Simulation Programme to strengthen coordination and response during disaster situations.
She said from past experiences, every disaster was different “That’s why training like this is important, to refresh the processes and procedures and remind everyone of their respective roles.
“Situations can also vary depending on the distance or location of the disaster.”
Nancy added: “From our experiences in Sabah and previously in Sarawak, such as the incident in Baram, Sarawak, we’ve learned the importance of continuous preparedness training.”
A kampung in Bintulu where my elder sister, Ah Moi, lives experienced a sudden water surge about three nights ago.
Her family, who slept on the floor, woke up to find their mattresses wet. They live in a house on stilts.
Last year, they had to seek refuge with a neighbour who lived one floor above them and wait till the floods subsided.
Now, with the onset of the Northeast Monsoon, Ah Moi and her family cannot sleep well at night. They have to monitor the water level under their house continuously.
As for me, whenever it rains at night, I am worried about monsoon flooding.
You see, a few years ago, I had to find a longer alternative route home when one of the roads I normally used was severely flooded. That experience was traumatic for me.
One four wheel drive truck went viral when it failed to make it to the other side of the road.
I hope and pray that this year, no roads that I use to go home after work at night will be flooded again.
The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of Sarawak Tribune. The writer can be reached at adelinel888@gmail. com.
