'We could only think about saving ourselves'

'We could only think about saving ourselves'

Emergency posts in areas prone to flooding are usually
established prior to the onset of the rainy season. They are set
up in order to assist the residents whose houses are flooded. In
some cases, the residents are evacuated to temporary shelters.
The situation is miserable and they can certainly use help, even
from strangers. Some of last year's flood victims talk to The
Jakarta Post on the need for emergency posts.

Dona, 32, is a member of the staff of a company in Kelapa
Gading, North Jakarta. She lives in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta,
with her family:

As far as I can remember, there was no emergency post in the
area last year. The water that flooded our houses reached levels
as high as one meter but we could only rely on our neighbors for
help. Luckily our neighborhood is close-knit and we coped.

I think there should be an emergency post in our area this
year, seeming as we are aware of the risk of flooding.

Sulam, 54, is a housewife who lives in Pondok Jaya, South
Jakarta, with her five children:

Last year we could do nothing to prevent the flooding of our
houses. But we were assisted by volunteers from several emergency
posts in the aftermath.

Our area is susceptible to floods, so while it is not
guaranteed, I hope there will be volunteers to help us again this
year.

Besides which, the subdistrict administration officials will
monitor the situation and warn us as early as they can.

I just hope there won't be severe floods this year.

Dayu, not his real name, 35, is a newsstand vendor in Kampung
Melayu, East Jakarta. He lives in Cipinang Muara, East Jakarta:

During a disaster like last year's flood, we could only think
about saving ourselves. I don't even remember if there was an
emergency post. But let's say there was a post, we could not rely
on the staff there, as there were many others in dire need of
assistance.

We contacted our neighborhood unit chief when our area was
flooded. However, we owe a lot to the donors and volunteers who
provided us with food.

I believe that natural disasters, like floods, are not in our
hands... what can we do to alter the course of nature? The
situation may seem overwhelming, but there is no alternative but
to face it.

However, I hope the local authorities will establish an
emergency post soon as the rainy season has already started.

-- Leo Wahyudi S.