'We need skilled volunters'

'We need skilled volunters'

With the rainy season upon us, many Jakartans remember how
massive floods inundated the capital last year. The Meteorology
and Geophysics Agency (BMG) has warned that the rains will peak
in January and February next year and there is a possibility of
flooding. The Jakarta Post talked to some residents on the need
for emergency posts in flood-prone areas.

Tabroni, 55, is a neighborhood unit chief in Paninggilan,
South Jakarta. He lives there with his wife and five children:

There was no emergency post in our area in last year's floods.
We had no idea where to address our demand for such a post. We
just have to accept the fact that flooding is inevitable in a
flood-prone area like this.

However, I praise the volunteers from the Indonesian Red Cross
(PMI) who helped us during the floods last year.

As for this rainy season, I don't expect to have an emergency
post. I can only hope that if there are floods this season, they
won't be as severe as before.

We will rely on help from officials from the subdistrict, the
Ministry of Social Affairs, PMI and donors.

But I have recommended three residents to join the first aid
training held by PMI in Cibubur, East Jakarta, as part of our
preparation for the floods. We need skilled volunteers in the
neighborhood.

I am also actively promoting a sort of early warning system as
the rains have begun in the last few days. My goal is to minimize
fatalities caused by floods.

Rozali, 65, is a retired neighborhood unit chief in Pondok
Pinang, South Jakarta. He lives with his wife and five children:

Living close to Pesanggrahan River we are all used to the
floods. I hope the government or the city administration keeps
its promise to build a dam here as district officials promised
six months ago.

I expect there will be an emergency post set up in
anticipation of possible floods this rainy season. We definitely
need an early warning alert from the subdistrict or the post. And
I hope the warning is not late.

When the area was hit by floods last year, they sent out a
warning when water had already inundated our houses.

Besides an emergency post, we also need a makeshift shelter to
accommodate flood-affected residents.

Ginah, 50, is a housewife who lives on Jl. Wijaya, South
Jakarta, with her husband and five children:

Volunteers from the emergency post were very helpful during
last year's floods. They came to each flood victim, distributing
food and necessary aid.

I think an early warning alert is unnecessary because we live
near a river which always overflows.

I just hope the floods will not be so severe this year.

And if there's an emergency post, I hope it's as useful as
last year. We only hope there's a safer place for us to stay just
in case we are evacuated.

-- Leo Wahyudi S.