Learning to live with floods<\/p>\n
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Kapuk Muara subdistrict in North Jakarta is routinely
\nflooded at least three times a year due to the high tides and
\nheavy rains. But because residents cannot afford to buy houses in
\nother flood-free areas, they have no choice but to deal with the
\nproblem as best they can.<\/p>\n
\"Our neighborhood lies in a flood-prone area since it is
\nlocated near the sea and between the Cengkareng drain, and the
\nMuara Angke river,\" a resident named Sudirman told The Jakarta
\nPost on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Flooding, which usually comes during the height of sea tide,
\ncan reach one meter. Most of the time, the flood waters from the
\nsea tide occur over four days or more.<\/p>\n
Most residents have learned to adapt, and managed to find ways
\nof dealing with the flooding.<\/p>\n
In front of some houses, piles of sand-filled sacks can be
\nfound. \"The residents here deploy the bags to prevent water from
\nentering their houses,\" a resident said.<\/p>\n
Some residents have built attics in their homes. When the
\nflood waters come, they store valuables there, often electronics.<\/p>\n
\"They have been very useful. We continue to put our valuables
\nand food supplies in the attic,\" Sudirman said.<\/p>\n
The recent floods have hit the area more intensely than usual
\nfor most of the past month.<\/p>\n
Some residents were forced to move to higher ground for two
\nweeks, starting Jan. 28, as the water reached well over one meter
\nhigh.<\/p>\n
They have returned to their houses, but still must wade
\nthrough the dirty, foul-smelling water.<\/p>\n
\"We have to go back to our normal activity, so we don't mind
\nthe water,\" said a neighbor, Sukma, who returned to her house,
\nwhich had been submerged beneath 30 centimeters of water.<\/p>\n
Most of the furniture in Sukma's house, as in many others, are
\nmade of plastic. There now sits a set of plastic sofas in her
\nliving room, and a wooden cabinet. The cabinet legs have been
\nresourcefully covered with aluminum foil to prevent damage from
\nflood.<\/p>\n
Overall, for this reason, residents tend to prefer plastic-
\nmade furniture because of its immunity from the flood.<\/p>\n
\"Plastic furniture is not actually what we like, but we have
\nto be realistic -- it's easy to clean, and the flood can't
\ndestroy it,\" Sukma said, noting that she has never put a carpet
\non her shopping list.<\/p>\n
The flooding has brought with it another, less-widely noted
\nbut equally common problem: skin diseases. However, most
\nresidents choose to ignore it.<\/p>\n
\"If you are a newcomer, you will suffer skin diseases but
\nafter a year or two, it's no longer a problem,\" said Tagor, a
\nlocal kiosk owner, who sells an anti-fungus cream.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/learning-to-live-with-floods-1447893297",
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