'We need skilled volunters'<\/p>\n
With the rainy season upon us, many Jakartans remember how
\nmassive floods inundated the capital last year. The Meteorology
\nand Geophysics Agency (BMG) has warned that the rains will peak
\nin January and February next year and there is a possibility of
\nflooding. The Jakarta Post talked to some residents on the need
\nfor emergency posts in flood-prone areas.<\/p>\n
Tabroni, 55, is a neighborhood unit chief in Paninggilan,
\nSouth Jakarta. He lives there with his wife and five children:<\/p>\n
There was no emergency post in our area in last year's floods.
\nWe had no idea where to address our demand for such a post. We
\njust have to accept the fact that flooding is inevitable in a
\nflood-prone area like this.<\/p>\n
However, I praise the volunteers from the Indonesian Red Cross
\n(PMI) who helped us during the floods last year.<\/p>\n
As for this rainy season, I don't expect to have an emergency
\npost. I can only hope that if there are floods this season, they
\nwon't be as severe as before.<\/p>\n
We will rely on help from officials from the subdistrict, the
\nMinistry of Social Affairs, PMI and donors.<\/p>\n
But I have recommended three residents to join the first aid
\ntraining held by PMI in Cibubur, East Jakarta, as part of our
\npreparation for the floods. We need skilled volunteers in the
\nneighborhood.<\/p>\n
I am also actively promoting a sort of early warning system as
\nthe rains have begun in the last few days. My goal is to minimize
\nfatalities caused by floods.<\/p>\n
Rozali, 65, is a retired neighborhood unit chief in Pondok
\nPinang, South Jakarta. He lives with his wife and five children:<\/p>\n
Living close to Pesanggrahan River we are all used to the
\nfloods. I hope the government or the city administration keeps
\nits promise to build a dam here as district officials promised
\nsix months ago.<\/p>\n
I expect there will be an emergency post set up in
\nanticipation of possible floods this rainy season. We definitely
\nneed an early warning alert from the subdistrict or the post. And
\nI hope the warning is not late.<\/p>\n
When the area was hit by floods last year, they sent out a
\nwarning when water had already inundated our houses.<\/p>\n
Besides an emergency post, we also need a makeshift shelter to
\naccommodate flood-affected residents.<\/p>\n
Ginah, 50, is a housewife who lives on Jl. Wijaya, South
\nJakarta, with her husband and five children:<\/p>\n
Volunteers from the emergency post were very helpful during
\nlast year's floods. They came to each flood victim, distributing
\nfood and necessary aid.<\/p>\n
I think an early warning alert is unnecessary because we live
\nnear a river which always overflows.<\/p>\n
I just hope the floods will not be so severe this year.<\/p>\n
And if there's an emergency post, I hope it's as useful as
\nlast year. We only hope there's a safer place for us to stay just
\nin case we are evacuated.<\/p>\n
-- Leo Wahyudi S.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/we-need-skilled-volunters-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }