Rainy Season, Jakarta Takes Disaster Mitigation Measures

Since last year, Jakarta Government has taken number of disaster mitigation measures in facing rainy season, which has recently become more intense.

Jakarta Government has taken number of disaster mitigation measures in facing rainy season

For information, there are 13 rivers in Jakarta and the most northern land of Jakarta is under sea level. Besides, Jakarta is also experiencing land subsidence per year and land use changes with an increasing population, rapid development, and increased run-off, which leads to reduced water catchment areas.

Readiness of Jakarta Water Resources (SDA) Agency

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Jakarta Government through SDA Agency has taken steps to anticipate disasters during rainy season. Jakarta SDA Agency Secretary, Dudi Gardesi explained, at least his side has made 5 efforts to prevent disasters, namely Gerebek Lumpur Program (dredging mud), Vertical Drainage, Pump Maintenance, Tidal Flood Management through NCICD, and Polder System Management.

"Gerebek Lumpur is carried out by dredging/cleaning mud to increase capacity of water channels, rivers, reservoirs thus its capacity can be optimized in rainy season. In 2020, we have dredged 23 reservoirs with dredging volume of 446,402.9 m3. Then for river dredging has been carried out in 93 locations with dredging volume of  279,967.5 m3. As well as 390 channels that have been dredged with dredging volume of 121,002.6 m3. In the previous years, dredging has also been carried out in other locations," he stated at Jakarta Siaga Banjir (Jakarta Flood Alert) Media Briefing at Jakarta City Hall, on Thursday (1/28), as quoted from Jakarta PPID Press Release.

Furthermore, he continued, SDA Agency has collaborated with related parties in the region which also involved the community to build vertical drainage (infiltration wells). As of December 31, 2020, as many as 2,974 infiltration wells have been built in 777 locations, such as RPTRAs, regional government buildings, schools, city parks, and mosques.

Meanwhile, for handling tidal flood through NCICD, Jakarta SDA Agency has determined priority locations for coastal embankment development, namely Kamal Muara, Blencong River, Adem-Muara Angke River, Muara Beach, Sunda Kelapa, and Tanjung Priok. Currently, 12.6 km of coastal embankment has been built and the construction will continue. In addition, here are locations for construction/rehabilitation of polder system in 2021-2022:

- Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta : Betik River's Pump and Artha Gading Pump

- Pulo Gadung, East Jakarta : Pulomas Pump

- Cakung-Cilincing, East Jakarta : Marunda Pump

- Makassar, East Jakarta : Tipala Pump

- Cipayung, East Jakarta : Adhyaksa Pump

- Penjaringan, North Jakarta : Muara Angke Pump and Teluk Gong Pump

- Pademangan, North Jakarta : Mangga Dua Pump

- Kembangan-Kedoya, West Jakarta : Green Garden Pump

"Jakarta Water Resources Agency has also prepared 487 stationary pumps in 178 locations, 175 mobile pumps in 5 regions, 257 heavy equipment, 465 dump trucks, 36 floodgates, and 8,101 personnel (blue troops)," he mentioned.

Readiness of Jakarta BPBD

Jakarta Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) has also carried out number of preparations in this rainy season. Jakarta BPBD has issued 33,311 guide books for flood preparedness which distributed to RT/RW administrators. Citizens can also download the guidebook at https://bit.ly/PanduanKesiapsiagaanMenghadapiBanjirJakarta. Moreover Jakarta BPBD has distributed 611 flood control manual books for Regional Apparatus Organizations (OPDs), business institutions, and volunteers.

"The guidebook contains an explanation of flood preparedness, start from when there is no flood (disaster preparedness bag), when there is a potential of flood, during the flood, in evacuation site, and post-flood. Hopefully, people can be prepared themselves better in facing flood, although we also deploy personnel and others," stated Sabdo Kurnianto, Acting Head (Plt) of Jakarta BPBD.

Jakarta BPBD has also installed signs and wayfindings that lead to the evacuation site in 267 urban villages. Here are the details of evacuation sites and its capacity:

- Central Jakarta

Buildings: 183

Capacity: 27,393

Estimated number of refugees: 9,593

- West Jakarta

Buildings: 414

Capacity: 64,919

Estimated number of refugees: 10,637

- South Jakarta

Buildings: 260

Capacity: 18,.175

Estimated number of refugees: 10,431

- North Jakarta

Buildings: 129

Capacity: 22,850

Estimated number of refugees: 14,538

- East Jakarta

Buildings: 257

Capacity: 39,599

Estimated number of refugees: 20,629

Jakarta BPBD has determined layout for the placement of refugee tents in accordance with COVID-19 health protocols, by separating general refugee tents with tents for vulnerable groups (pregnant women and elderly) and people that have close contact/suspected COVID-19. At the evacuation site, his side will also provide health screening area, swab area, and toilet.

In order to anticipate accumulation of refugees, local urban village and sub-district heads have prepared alternative evacuation sites 2-3 times more than the existing evacuation sites. Jakarta Government has also prepared health workers/health volunteers, task forces at Municipality/Sub-district/Urban Village/RT/RW levels, as well as sterilizing the area regularly with disinfectant, providing hand sanitizer/handwashing facilities.

Jakarta BPBD has submitted supporting equipment for 6 municipalities/regency in form of buoys and rubber boats. Disaster Resilient Village Simulation has also been carried out thus community is truly prepared to anticipate disasters in the rainy season amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Furthermore, Jakarta BPBD also collaborates with BNPB, TNI, Police, and volunteers, as well as implementing tactical floor game (simulation) with predetermined flood scenarios and guiding joint personnel regarding flood preparedness that involving 1,144 TNI personnel, 1,069 police personnel, and 1,117 personnel from 73 communities/institutions.