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.