BPBD Intensifies Preparedness Efforts for Rainy Season

As many as 267 personnel of the Quick Reaction Team under the Jakarta Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) have been alerted in each urban village in order to face the upcoming rainy season. It aims to accelerate coordination and disaster management.

It has been carried out since the end of September 2023 and until November 2 in 65 urban villages

Jakarta BPBD Head, Isnawa Adji said besides deploying personnel, his party had also checked the infrastructure which included tents, boats, ring buoys, jackets, and life jackets, as well as carried out a disaster preparedness call.

His party also did a simulation of setting up tents in 25 urban village-prone areas and so on. "It has been carried out since the end of September 2023 and until November 2 in 65 urban villages," he expressed, Friday (11/10).

BPBD: Beware of High Waves in West Java Sea

While the coordination with BNPB, BMKG, mayors and regents, SDA Agency, and all stakeholders had been made for disaster management.

"We also open up space for community participation in efforts to prevent flood disasters through the Disaster Risk Reduction Forum which consists of cross-sector disaster management agencies and institutions," he explained.

He explained the latest weather information and Water Level (TMA) conditions were disseminated to the public via social media channels and the bpbd.jakarta.go.id website.

Early warning regarding the increase in TMA is also provided via the Disaster Early Warning System (DEWS) and SMS Blast. As for the early weather warnings can be accessed via the website, social media, Whatsapp Group, and Telegram Channel.

Based on information from the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the Moderate El Nino phenomenon is predicted to last until February 2024. On the other hand, the IOD (Indian Ocean Dipole) shows positive conditions and is predicted to last until the end of 2023.

"Even though the El Nino phenomenon is strengthening, the drought or its impacts will end once the rainy season arrives," he concluded.

According to him, the rainy season in Indonesia is usually caused by the Asian Monsoon. The Asian monsoon is a wind that moves from the west of Indonesia which brings more air masses causing high waves, strong winds, and heavy rain.

This phenomenon is predicted to start actively entering Indonesian territory in November 2023 but will arrive later than usual, so it is estimated that the start of the 2023/2024 rainy season in Jakarta will occur in November 2023 and its peak will occur in January to February 2024.

BPBD urges the public to be prepared to face the potential for hydrometeorological disasters such as floods, landslides, and strong winds in their respective environments.

He asserted that the community could take part and carry out mitigation efforts independently in their respective environments. It included not littering, preparing disaster preparedness bags, and updating information about the latest weather through BPBD social media channels and the BPBD website.

Then checking the condition of the water channels and paying attention to the condition of the soil and trees around each area. If you find or experience an emergency that requires help, immediately contact the Jakarta Siaga 112 Call Center (toll-free and can be accessed 24 hours non-stop) or report via JAKI application on JakLapor feature.