The Star Online: Metro: Central
The Star Online: Metro: Central |
| DBKL rescue squad on standby at all its branches Posted: 17 Oct 2012 04:48 AM PDT RESCUE workers with Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) have had their leave applications frozen by the local authority and the 40-member rescue team is now on standby for floods in the city. DBKL deputy director-general (socio-economy development) Datuk Amin Nordin Abd Aziz said the team had been told to forgo their leave and come back to work since the first week of October. "We have activated our operations room and teams comprising flying squad and rescue squads have been deployed to the enforcement division in Jalan Tun Razak and each of the DBKL branches in Kuala Lumpur,'' he said. "Our 40-member rescue squad are highly trained in search and rescue missions, including the 23 scuba divers," Amin Nordin said. The rescue squad is equipped with rescue boats, two innovative rescue surf boats, jet ski, lifejackets, water craft, hovercraft, 4WD vehicles, tipper trucks and cranes to carry out rescue operations. "The flying squad comprising traffic wardens on scramblers and DBKL staff will be based in all its branches to ensure they are able to respond quickly,'' he added. "We don't want a situation where the rescue squad arrives after the floodwaters recede. "Now, the branch closest to the emergency will act quickly,'' he said, adding that each branch will have a flying squad team to handle uprooted trees, accidents, landslides and floods. Amin Nordin said those based in the control room will be alerted on the weather by the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID), and they would then alert the people on the ground, like the flying squad and the nearest team. Amin said unlike previously, DBKL would now identify and monitor flood prone areas in the city. Roads identified as flood prone are Jalan Kuching, Jalan Ipoh, Jalan Genting Kelang, Jalan Tun Razak, Jalan Segambut, Jalan Duta, Jalan Khidmat Usaha and Section 6 Wangsa Maju which have been installed with water-level indicators to monitor rainfall. Mohd Amin said DBKL had also identified 21 schools and 14 multipurpose halls as relief centres to house victims and had formed a disaster relief management committee together with the relevant departments including the police, fire and meteorological department. The operations centre can be contacted at 03-4024 4424, 03-4022 0055, 03-4026 7222 or 019-212 0031. Meanwhile, DID deputy director Norhisham Mohd Ghazali said its staff's leave had also been frozen and put on standby for any emergency. He said the siren systems in the city to activate flood warnings had been checked and were in working condition. The siren system is in place at 12 flood prone areas to alert the public. The integrated traffic information system will also be used to alert motorists against using roads in flood prone areas. |
| Round-the-clock shift at Disaster Operations Unit in Shah Alam Posted: 17 Oct 2012 04:27 AM PDT ALTHOUGH Shah Alam has not been hit by flash floods for sometime now, Shah Alam City Council's (MBSA) Disaster Operations Unit is on alert if the need for their services arises. "Our team is always ready to face any situation at any time, like to clear fallen trees, help flood victims or rush to disaster areas," said MBSA assistant enforcement officer and unit supervisor Che Kamal Hussin. He said his team of 38 officers worked in three shifts, around the clock, starting from 8am to 4pm, from 4pm to 12am and from 12am to 8am. The disaster unit is well equipped with six speed boats, a jet-ski and water pumps as well as chainsaws to cut fallen trees which are obstructing traffic after a downpour. Life-jackets, safety lights and tents have also been stocked up in preparation for the rainy season. It is Che Kamal's job to ensure he has enough manpower even during major public holidays like during the upcoming Hari Raya Haji next week. "The most recent incident that we had to cope with was on the second day of Hari Raya this year, when more than 10 trees fell due to rain and strong winds, "Most of us were on leave but were recalled to help despite the festive period," he said. During the dry season, his officers are sent to the Fire and Rescue Services Department and occasionally to Kuala Lumpur City Hall to learn about rescue work. He said of late there had been no major disasters after warning system were installed at Sungai Damansara and Sungai Klang which flows through the city. "Before, places like TTDI Jaya were disaster prone but now the situation is very much under control," he said, adding that his only concern was Sungai Rasah and Taman Mesra Tambahan in Section U1. If a major disaster occurs in the area, Che Kamal said he would seek assistance from other councils. Likewise, the team also helps other councils such as Klang Municipal Council which encountered floods in August. The council has a disaster control centre based at Wisma MBSA and the public can its 24-hour hotline 03-5510 5811 for help. |
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