'I am in charge of the people's fate here'

Learning from last year's experience, when 168 of 262 subdistricts in the capital were inundated by massive floods, some subdistricts have prepared to safeguard themselves against the possible dangers of the rainy season. They shared their methods with The Jakarta Post.

Zainuri, 52, is a member of staff at the Bukit Duri subdistrict office in South Jakarta. He lives in Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta, with his wife and son:

It is necessary to have an emergency post in the neighborhood, particularly in flood-prone areas.

We already have such a post at the subdistrict office. During the rainy season we will have two personnel on duty at all times.

We will also monitor the water level at Depok and Manggarai sluice gates, to enable us to give residents an early warning.

Based on our experience, when the water starts to increase rapidly we will have around four hours before it is too late to warn people. We will notify community units in the subdistrict as early as possible.

Last year we failed to give an early warning. We were not aware of the situation until the water had inundated the residents. It was so fast.

I hope the emergency post will be as efficient as it was in previous years. Donations for the victims will go directly to community unit chiefs and they will be in charge of distributing them.

I must state my appreciation of the Indonesian Red Cross and various youth organizations, who assisted us during last year's floods.

Rasanto, 40, is member of staff at the Kampung Melayu subdistrict office in East Jakarta:

One of the functions of our emergency post is to monitor the water level of Ciliwung river which is susceptible to flooding. Subdistrict officials who are on duty at the post must record the river's water level every four hours.

If the water in Manggarai and Depok sluice gates reaches above normal levels, we will contact community unit chiefs. We will also use the sound system at the mosque to warn people. Our last step is actually to go door-to-door and personally warn people about the situation. Usually it takes six hours before the water reaches Jakarta from Bogor.

If evacuation occurs, tents are prepared for temporary shelters. But having said that, we don't have a specific place to evacuate the people to, so the situation is not straightforward.

Tarmuji, 46, is Cipinang subdistrict chief in East Jakarta. He lives nearby with his wife and three children:

We have an emergency post at the subdistrict office.

As the area is prone to floods, the residents have started to clear garbage from the river. We also have a regular meeting every three months between the residents and local authorities, one of the issues inevitably on the agenda is how to anticipate floods.

However, I certainly hope that we won't experience such severe floods this year.

Be assured, I will stay at the office even during heavy downpour as I am in charge of the people's fates here.

-- Leo Wahyudi S.