Jabodetabek Hit by Floods: 3 Important Things You Should Do

In early March, heavy rain fell over parts of Jabodetabek, starting from Sunday (March 2), resulting in flooding. When it comes to floods, Dear Initiators, you may already know that floods are a common occurrence every year, especially when the rainy season begins. This article will discuss 3 things you can do before, during, and after a flood. One of the speakers from Human Initiative’s (HI) Rescue Team, Jaka (or commonly called Kang Jaka), will share his experience and tips on how to face floods.

Jaka is a member of HI’s Rescue Team, and he participated in handling the floods in Jabodetabek, particularly in Bekasi. He helped evacuate residents and provided them with basic needs. He mentioned that by Thursday (March 6), the floodwaters began to recede, and several residents, with the help of the Rescue Team, started cleaning up their surroundings after the flood. He also added that he had been helping the affected residents at the evacuation posts for the past three days.

Now, Dear Initiators, you will learn 3 preparations from Kang Jaka for before, during, and after a flood.

Preparations Before a Flood
Kang Jaka shared 3 preparations that you can do before a flood occurs:

1. Ensure your residence is in a flood-prone zone or not.
2. Monitor the BPBD and BMKG websites for information on rainfall in various regions to know the weather conditions, whether it’s normal, cautious, alert, or dangerous.
3. Collect important documents and secure them to prevent them from being damaged by floodwaters.

During a Flood
Kang Jaka shared his experiences helping residents when a flood occurs. According to him, each area presents different challenges. He outlined several things you should do during a flood, including:

1. Secure valuables by moving them to a safe place or higher ground.
2. Turn off all electricity in the house.
3. Follow the instructions of officers when they arrive.
4. Bring medicine, clothes, and other valuables if you need to move to an evacuation post.
5. Maintain cleanliness at the evacuation post.
6. Follow health protocols to prevent the spread of diseases.

After a Flood
Kang Jaka explained that after the flood, he and the residents worked together to clean the mud and debris caused by the flood. At this stage, residents usually start returning to their homes and are encouraged to keep monitoring information about possible follow-up floods.

We hope Kang Jaka’s tips can be useful for Dear Initiators so that you can always stay alert when facing floods and continue to #StrengthenEachOther during such times.

#HumanInitiative
#FloodReliefJabodetabek