Agencies ordered to ready for storms<\/p>\n
Damar Harsanto and Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post,
\nJakarta\/Tangerang<\/p>\n
Governor Sutiyoso told all agencies in his administration to
\nprepare for possible storms and floods following the violent
\nstorm that hit the capital on Jan. 30.<\/p>\n
The storm uprooted nearly 200 trees, mostly in South Jakarta,
\nand caused huge traffic jams along roads connecting the
\nmunicipality to other areas.<\/p>\n
"I have told all my subordinates to remain alert to anticipate
\nthe stormy weather ahead," Sutiyoso said at City Hall on Monday.<\/p>\n
He admitted that the administration had yet to establish a
\ncrisis center to organize all agencies for any calamities.<\/p>\n
Jakarta Public Order Agency head Soebagio said that his agency
\nhad distributed cellular phones to each of subdistrict heads so
\nthat they could be contacted in case of an emergency,
\nparticularly natural disasters.<\/p>\n
"If they turn off their cell phones or can't be contacted when
\nwe need them to respond quickly during a calamity, then we will
\nimpose sanctions on them," he told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
In addition to cellular phones provided for 267 subdistrict
\nheads in 23 districts citywide, the agency also distributed Rp 10
\nmillion (US$1,190) to each subdistrict as an emergency fund.<\/p>\n
The Meteorology and Geophysics Agency (BMG) has predicted that
\nthe stormy weather is likely to occur due to a delay in the peak
\nof the rainy season. BMG had previously forecast 26 consecutive
\ndays of rain for January.<\/p>\n
The delay in the peak of the rainy season, BMG says, will
\ncause the heaviest rains to fall in mid-February. The Jan. 30
\nstorm was only the beginning of the rainy season's peak as
\nindicated by tropical storm Linda in southern Indonesian waters.<\/p>\n
Torrential rains destroyed 30 houses in three villages in
\nGandasari subdistrict, Jatiuwung district, Tangerang on Sunday.
\nNo fatalities or injuries were reported in the storm that also
\nuprooted electricity poles and trees.<\/p>\n
Gandasari subdistrict head Komeng said that his office was
\nstill collecting data on residents whose houses were destroyed by
\nthe storm.<\/p>\n
"It (the storm) came suddenly at about 6 p.m., tearing off
\nrooftops and uprooting trees and electricity poles. It lasted
\nuntil 8 p.m.," said Ano, 24, a resident of Dumpit village.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/agencies-ordered-to-ready-for-storms-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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