Flash Flood in Kay Bee

Salam..

It was calm and cool last night until heavy rain and strong wind creates havoc at around midnight. The gush of wind creates a eerie howling sound when it passes through the cavities of the vent on the roof. In the morning, the drain swelled and overflowed. The low lying byroad leading to the main road is submerged by about 1 foot. Poor drainage does not seem to remove the excess as soon enough as the in-flowing from the nearby grassy plain.

Some cars stalled midway. Most people stayed at home, either delaying going to work or calling it a day already. Children, oblivious of the lurking dangers, played nonchalantly at the edges of the slow receding flood, under the gaze of the adults. An improper dumping ground by the side of the road is already a playing ground for our enemy rodent. Haven't people heard of Leptospirosis or locally known as penyakit kencing tikus? People do not believe on waht they could not see.

Here is the clipping of what had happened in the state today.

KOTA BARU: Thunderstorms over Kelantan lasting hours yesterday caused flash floods in a few low-lying areas here and in Tumpat.

The affected areas here included Kampung Guchil Bayam, Jalan Lundang and Kampung Baung while in Tumpat, the flash flood hit Wakaf Baru and Pasir Pekan.

Villagers complained that the situation had been aggravated by the poor drainage systems, especially in Kampung Guchil Bayam and Wakaf Baru.

Some of the affected villagers also claimed that there was no proper drainage system being built in their areas.

Villager Rogayah Abdul said flash floods hit her area because of clogged drains which prevented excess water from flowing out into the main drainage system.

“There is a lot of rubbish in the drains. It has been there for the past few months as the local authority has done nothing to clear out the rubbish,” claimed the 40-year-old from Kampung Guchil.

Housewife Halimah Mamat, 44, from Wakaf Baru said the flash floods caused her house to be submerged under 200cm of water yesterday.

“Water flowed to all corners of my house including the kitchen and room. This happened because there are no drains around my home,” she said.

The state Security Committee has dismissed the possibility that the heavy rains were a sign of a second wave of floods in the state, saying however that the monsoon season had not ended yet.

“Since August, we have been making all the necessary preparations to face any eventuality of flood. Therefore, we are ready from now on especially after weather forecasters issued the yellow warning,” he said.

Meanwhile, water levels at all eight flood assessment points in the state were recorded to be below the warning level yesterday.

The Meteorological Services Department had recently issued a yellow stage alert that there would be heavy rain and thunderstorms in Kelantan and Terengganu and expected the rain to last until tomorrow and this may result in flash floods in low-lying areas and along river banks.

It is still a long way to go in this monsoon season. Worrying enough, the sudden heavy pour followed by a lapse of clear sky days is adequate to give chance for the aedes and albopictus to breed in available standing water. Surely, we do not want to see this as a precipitant to another round of dengue outbreak in this state. Especially Kota Bharu. Behind the curtain, the health officers have worked hard enough to the brim to effect dengue control meassure. On top of that, the flood command centre is on stand by, adding extra work.

The below is taken off the Malaysian Meteorological Department.

HEAVY RAIN/THUNDERSTORMS ADVISORY (YELLOW STAGE) Issued at : 10.10 am 24/11/2010

SECTION A Intermittent rain occasionally moderate is expected to occur over Kelantan (Tumpat, Kota Bharu, Bachok, Pasir Mas, Pasir Puteh, Machang, Tanah Merah, Jeli and Kuala Krai Districts) and Terengganu (Setiu, Kuala Terengganu, Hulu Terengganu and Marang Districts) starting on Sunday morning 28 November 2010 until Tuesday night, 30 November 2010

This condition may result in flash floods over low-lying areas and along river bank

We just have to be prepared at all times.