KANGAR – The Perlis Fire and Rescue Department is prepared to face possible floods during the northeast monsoon season beginning this month, said its director Ruhisha Haris.
He said the department has been making preparations since April to ensure that all personnel and rescue assets were ready.
“In preparation for possible floods, we have tested our rescue assets such as boats and diving equipment at Tasik Timah Tasoh, flood tunnels, and Kg Wai,” he told reporters after attending the launch of the Water Activities Safety Council and lifesaving appliances at the Bukit Ayer Recreation Centre here today.
State Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Azizan Sulaiman officiated the event.
Ruhisha said the training and preparation were to ensure that the department was ready in terms of logistics, additional equipment and personnel strength.
He said the department had identified 54 high-risk areas for floods in the state, which included Wang Bintong, Kg Wang Besar, Kg Abi, Taman Semarak, Bukit Kubu, Kg Nelayan, Kg Panggas, Kubang Tiga, Mata Ayer, and Ulu Pauh.
“We will conduct scheduled monitoring in the 54 hotspot areas for early preparations,” he said.
Ruhisha added that in the event of a flood in the state, the department was ready to deploy 400 personnel, including 14 reserve firefighters from the Simpang Empat Fire and Rescue Department and 200 volunteers.
In terms of logistics, he said the Perlis Fire and Rescue Department had nine rescue boats, five lorries, eight utility units, and more than 200 safety jackets. – Bernama, October 7, 2022
