SYNOPSIS

The most severe flood in our country happened on the 17th December 2021 affected specific low lying areas in a number of states. This was because of the continuous high intensity of rainfall that began at 10.00 am and continued for several days. The government declared a total loss of RM6.1 billion and very unfortunate life were lost too. Since then, many experts had expressed their opinions together with suggestion in the media each has their own merits. It was also reported that the flood of this magnitude happens every 50 years but with climate change phenomenon it could be more frequent, is the country prepared for the next great flood?

In the local newspaper it was reported that Selangor experienced a 380mm of rainfall over the duration and at the same time the tide was 4.5m high. Under such circumstances whatever infrastructure put in place will not prevent flooding at low lying areas.

In this respect suggest an Emergency Response Preparedness Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) at OPERATIONAL level under the Prime Ministers Office to be activated when there is a likelihood of flood of such magnitude.  The objectives are to ensure residents in low lying areas are provided with ample warning to evacuate and to move their assets to higher level. The rescue of trapped residents would be immediate with the boats already at the sites. The talk will provide an outline of a simple unbureaucratic SOP at OPERATIONAL LEVEL to address the next GREAT FLOOD in the country.


BIODATA OF SPEAKER

Ir. Gary Lim Eng Hwa
BE(Mech.) NZ, Mgt Dip. FIEM, P.Eng, Asean Eng., AT31000 (Approved ISO31000 Risk Management Lead Trainer)

Gary is a member of the Building Services Technical Division and member of the Fire Advisory Board of the Institution of Engineers, Malaysia. He has a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Canterbury, New Zealand and a Management Diploma from New Zealand. He is a Professional Engineer registered with the Board of Engineers, Malaysia and a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM).  In 2016 he obtained Approved ISO31000 Risk Management Lead Trainer Certificate from G31000 Institution.

Gary conducted a course on Emergency Response Preparedness in Manufacturing sectors covering all the likelihood of an emergency. The response of each of the emergency should be specific rather than general hence there will be multi teams within the plant.