"Based on the weather forecast by the Jakarta office of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics (BMKG), mild to heavy rains are expected between the second week of January and the third week of February in 2016. In view of this, we must be alert in case a disaster (flooding) occurs," Masrokhan, the citys head of social affairs, noted in a press statement received here on Thursday.
Masrokhan said he had prepared a team of disaster alert personnel (Tagana) in addition to personnel from his office and all departments of the city administration along with the neighborhood disaster alert teams and sub-district social service heads.
Data from Jakartas Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) revealed an increase in the number of areas affected by floods in early 2015 compared to 37 sub-districts and 125 villages, which experienced serious flooding on earlier instances.
"We have readied personnel and the means and facilities to deal with the impact of flooding. We have prepared 20 "Kampung Siaga Bencana" (neighborhood disaster alert-KSB) teams in villages prone to flooding. Social service teams in five mayoralties must continue to coordinate with sub-district and village administrations and the KSB and should be ready to handle the flood situation," he emphasized.
Masrokhan said he had also provided logistics supplies, including ready-to-serve foods, rice, noodles, cooking oil, biscuits, and other necessities to deal with the impact of floods.
"School uniforms, school equipment, blankets, clothes for women, T-shirts, and other items have also been made available in addition to providing makeshift kitchens, cars, tents, mats, and rubber boats," he remarked.
Masrokhan hoped that if flooding did occur this year, it would not be as severe as in the previous years.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2015
