GEORGE TOWN, Oct 21 — Penang emergency response agencies are ready to face the La Niña phenomenon that is expected to hit the whole country from now until December.
Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the state’s disaster management committee has ensured all technical and rescue teams are on standby so that they are ready to face any eventualities.
“All relevant agencies are ready, from the disaster management centre to the rescue teams, to the local communities involved in contacting the authorities in case of any incidents, are on standby,” he said in a press conference at his office in Komtar today.
He said the Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) have informed that the country is now in the intermonsoon period that started on September 30 and is expected to end in November before entering the north-east monsoon period from November until March 2026.
“During this period, Penang is expected to receive rainfall of between 60mm and 430mm a month with the number of rainy days of between eight to 21 days a month,” he said.
He said this weather condition is expected to cause flash floods, trees falling and damages to structures so all agencies must ensure their assets, logistics and personnel are ready.
“The state drainage and irrigation department has also started clearing rivers, retention ponds and drainage systems in flood hotspots to reduce the risk of floods,” he said.
He said the DID will also need to conduct maintenance on the telemetry and hydrology stations and check on the water level monitoring equipment as well as early flood warning systems.
“We have identified 389 temporary evacuation centres in the state that can be activated at any time,” he said.
He said the state’s disaster command centre is also on standby mode with its communications system, database and disaster call centre ready.
“The disaster command centre will be the main coordination centre for all state, district and federal agencies to compile and distribute information in real time,” he said.
