Victims grapple with annual flood problem

Victims grapple with annual flood problem

Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Heavy rains will still be pouring down on Jakarta in the coming
days, the Meteorology and Geophysics Agency (BMG) has said. It
simply means that flooding is to continue.

Although many Jakartans are tired of annual flooding ruining
their homes, some have decided to grapple with the flooding
rather than cursing their bad luck but doing nothing about it.

Maria Hutagalung, 50, a resident of Perumnas III housing
complex in Bekasi, has yet to recuperate from cleaning up her
house after floodwater swamped her house on Wednesday.

"The water has completely receded. But, we must prepare for
renewed floods, which could be more devastating than the one on
Wednesday," Maria told The Jakarta Post.

She said the floodwater was knee-high inside her house
following an evening downpour on Wednesday.

In anticipation of further floods, Maria who lives in the
house together with her husband, said that she had started to
place her belongings in higher places.

She made some shelves nailed against the wall, to put light
goods on and propped up heavier goods with bricks.

A barrier made of cement and bricks, was also constructed
right in front of her house's front door to prevent floodwater
from entering the house.

To avoid electrocution, all electrical sockets had been moved
up as high as 1.5 meters from the floor level.

"I have no choice but to face the floods. I could simply sell
the house but I am not sure that I could buy the same sort of
house which is free from flooding in a safer area in Jakarta,"
said Maria.

Maria said that her husband, Leo Panggabean, who works for a
construction firm in Cileungsi, Bogor, could not go to work on
Wednesday due to the floods.

"If more heavy rain comes, he will also stay at home. Just in
case a sudden flood inundates our home," said Maria.

She recounted a bitter experience during last year's floods
when her spring bed, cupboard, and electronics were all damaged
by floodwater which inundated her house for several days.

The massive flooding last year also forced her family to seek
shelter with relatives after staying in the dark for three days
owing to an electricity blackout, recalled Maria.

Similarly, Rudito, 30, a resident of Bukit Duri subdistrict in
South Jakarta revealed that he had stored all his belongings on
the second floor of his house in fear of another flood.

"Learning from our experience of last year's flooding, we've
built a second story on the house and slightly elevated the
floor," said Rudito.

Sudden floods that inundated his home for several days early
last year damaged most of his belongings, revealed Rudito whose
house is only 20 meters away from the Ciliwung riverbank.

Although Rudito has placed his goods on the second floor, he
is still worried that more devastating floods will come in the
next few days.

"While working, I am always watchful if the sky is dark and
clouded ... I will return home immediately to secure my
belongings," said Rudito who works for a handicraft firm in East
Jakarta.

The 2002 flood caused billions of rupiah in losses, claiming
nearly 30 lives and displacing over 380,000 people.