FLASH FLOODS

WHEN FLOOD TURN AROUND DON'T DROWN

JOHOR BARU, Nov 16, 2015: Three motorists were trapped in their cars after their vehicles’ were stuck in a flash flood along the busy Jalan Wong Ah Fook in the city centre here today.

However, firemen managed to assist the victims, while traffic police closed off the roads around the area.

A Johor Fire and Rescue Department spokesperson said they dispatched a team from the Johor Baru fire station after receiving a distress call at 12.48pm.

“The team arrived at the scene at 1pm and immediately gave assistance,” said the spokesperson, adding that there were no casualties reported.

The three were part of 20 cars that were also stuck along the stretch after it was flooded for about two hours following continuous heavy downpour at 12pm.

Among the areas hit was the Jalan Wong Ah Fook area where the popular City Square Johor Baru shopping complex and the Komtar JBCC mall were located.

HOW TO PREVENT FLOOD??

• By improving or repairing the drainage system. This helps to reduce the rising water level when the flash flood happens here. This can be done by widening or increasing the size of drain to let more water flow in it rather than in the road
• Retaining walls. In some places, retaining walls levees, lakes, dams, reservoirs or retention ponds have been constructed to hold extra water during times of flooding
• Vegetation. Trees, shrubs and grass help protect the land from erosion by moving water. People in low-lying areas must be encouraged to use a lot of vegetation to help break the power of moving flood water and also help reduce erosion.