WEATHER experts predict that Malaysia will be facing another terrible flood during the peak of the northeast monsoon season from November to January, which could be more severe than last year’s worst.  

The floods are caused by tropical depressions formed by air that moves towards lower areas, rising and creating thunderstorms with strong winds. When it travels overland, it is supposed to peter out. 

Last year’s tropical depression that affected the eastern states of Terengganu, Kelantan, and Pahang, instead of petering out, gathered strength and continued to move inland towards the Straits of Malacca. 

This triggered continuous, heavy rainfall in the west coast, resulting in the worst flood in Selangor during the weekend of December 18 and 19.  

The lesson learnt then was that the west coast could also be susceptible to massive floods. 

Furthermore, the unpredictability of climate change has to be factored in, with global warming brought about by excessive emissions of greenhouse gases caused by human activities such as deforestation, relentless logging, and burning of fossil fuels, all in the name of progress and development.  

Based on the adage that knowing a problem is already half the solution, the weathermen in Malaysia should look out for a situation where a tropical depression—after offloading its moisture convergence—suddenly becomes a force to be reckoned with. 

Early preparation is needed for flood mitigation. This includes educating and reminding the public to always check the weather reports, and observe the do’s and don’ts, among other things.  

During last year’s flood in Selangor, boats seemed to be in a short supply, causing many to be trapped at their homes or on their rooftops. Calls by victims for boats to be used to evacuate them to the nearest relief centres were even heard on national television. 

There were even boat owners volunteering their assistance to move people to safer areas. This shows boat owners can be mobilised to join humanitarian missions. 

Therefore, the authorities in each state could create a database of boat owners who could be called on a voluntary basis to assist in search and rescue missions. 

They could also start to turn abandoned lands on higher ground near flood-prone areas into parking lots for those who wished to get off the roads early. This would minimise the damage done to vehicles.  

For now, the government seems to have done a good job of getting a total of 79,549 personnel and rescue agency members ready to be deployed in an emergency. It has also mobilised 22,622 assets, comprising boats, boat trailers, and jet skis.  

What’s important here is that all these efforts need to be coordinated in an effective and efficient manner. – October 12, 2022.  

*Jamari Mohtar reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.