Penang readies for inundation

State prepares its disaster relief efforts as it braces for floods

GEORGE TOWN: From temple kitchens to nasi kandar restaurants and district offices, everyone who can lend a hand has been prepped to brace for floods in the state.

With painful lessons learnt from last year’s flood disasters, the Penang government has met many organisations to brief them on how to get ready for another possible deluge this year.

“We distributed 26 boats to voluntary fire squads, and 18 more donated by Penang Rotary Club will be sent out.

“Two weeks ago, we held a disaster management workshop for government agencies.

“Another workshop will be organised for NGOs on Oct 15,” said state Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh.

Phee said they had also roped in Nine Emperor God temples in Butterworth and Bukit Mertajam, which have kitchen facilities large enough to cook vegetarian meals for some 3,000 people, to be on standby to assist in handing out aid should the sky open up again and bring in the storms.

He said last year, Pelita Nasi Kandar gave about 6,000 hot meals to flood victims while Subaidah Nasi Kandar provided for 7,000 people.

Phee said both outlets were ready to help again should the floods return.

“Last year, the first wave struck on Sept 15 and we ran out of disaster relief supplies as requests for additional stocks came a bit late.

“When another round of floods occurred on Nov 4, flood victims really suffered,” Phee said, adding that the state government had learnt its lesson and would make sure disaster relief supplies were stocked up.

Phee said the Lions Clubs were also ready to mobilise its central kitchen to any flood-hit area and serve hot meals to victims.

He said a meeting was also held to pore over rain patterns and study the floods that hit Kedah on Monday, adding that Penang was expected to be hit by similar floods.