The Impact of the Flash Flood and the Learning Point

Three provinces in Sumatra have been hit by extreme flash flood. It was triggered by natural factors and destructive human activities. Logs carried by the floodwaters are proof. The impact of the flash flood is significant and felt by the surrounding communities. Disaster management must be optimized to address post-disaster conditions.

The Impact of the Flash Flood

Extreme flash floods caused by a combination of tropical cyclones and human activities, especially illegal act. When it struck in Sumatra, the impacts were complex.

1. Many Fatalities and Injuries

The level of damage is extensive and has significantly impacted the lives of people in three provinces. Many injuries have also been caused by the floodwaters carrying logs. This situation is deeply concerning and has triggered a traumatic effect on some people.

2. Hunger and Health Problems

The survivors are still in evacuation areas. However, aid hasn’t arrived due to difficult land transportation access. Roads and bridges have been damaged or cut off, and ineffective disaster management has also worsened aid distribution. So, there was starvation and health problems. According to some reports, this condition has caused the deaths of some people.

3. Significant Material Loss

Material losses were certain and not in small amounts. The loss of homes and properties is the main problem. They are struggling to survive in the midst of limitations. Only a few pieces of clothing, minimal food supplies, and remaining supplies of clean water. Everything was swept away by the floodwaters.

4. Infrastructure Damage

Due to power and internet disruptions, people lost access to information and communication. They were left without lighting and internet signals. Land transportation access was also worsened by collapsed bridges and damaged roads. Several villages were isolated. All of these cause the difficulty of aid distribution. Fuel was also unavailable.

5. Environmental Damage

The next damage is environmental degradation. Massive deforestation has significantly reduced forest areas, including upstream areas. The impact is flash flood occurred and affected rice fields, plantations, and livestock. Strong flood currents swept away everything. The ecosystem is also disrupted after the habitats of flora and fauna are damaged.

Learning Point for Disaster Management

The impact of the flash flood increases awareness of many aspects. The emergence of logs amidst the floodwaters is evidence that environmental damage triggered the natural disaster. Lack of preparedness for disaster risk mitigation is also a factor in why the extreme flash flood occurred. Among these shocking facts, the learning points are crucial to improving disaster management.

1. Awareness of the Tropical Cyclone

BMKG issued a weather warning before the flash flood occurred. The warning is based on a prediction that heavy rains will occur. It was triggered by Cyclone 95B, which developed into Cyclone Senyar in the Strait of Malacca. Historically, it is a rare phenomenon. The cyclone rarely happens in the equatorial area, so the awareness about it is not optimal. The effective prevention hasn’t been implemented.

As a lesson learned, some programs are needed, such as research, outreach, and the formulation of disaster mitigation for tropical cyclones. Various factors that worsen must be prevented.

2. Improving Disaster Warning System

When potential disasters are identified, a disaster warning will be given to the public before it occurs. Not only alarms or sirens to signal warnings, but emergency messages are needed to provide detailed information. This information will raise awareness of the danger.

3. Reorganize Disaster Management

Disaster management should be reviewed periodically to ensure its continuous improvement. These massive flash floods are evidence of suboptimal disaster management. The terrible impacts haven’t been matched by a swift and appropriate response. Evacuation and recovery have also been delayed.

From prevention to disaster recovery in risk mitigation must be enhanced to be effective. The national programs must be implemented by the central and local governments. Cooperation from various parties will expedite disaster management. The foreign aid is preferred to be acceptable if necessary.

4. Tighten Supervision of Forest Areas

Deforestation is a triggering factor for this extreme flash flood. The high rate of forest conversion reduces the number of trees, including in upstream areas. This condition makes them unable to absorb water and maintain soil structure.

Reflecting on this situation, monitoring of forest areas needs to be tightened. This is the time for implementing strict regulations, followed by strict oversight and enforcement of any illegal activity.

5. Assessing Disaster-Prone Zones

To ensure the effective rebuilding of residential areas, determining safe zones is crucial. The worst-affected areas should not be converted into residential areas. Upstream areas and riverbanks should not be used for settlements, but rather for reforestation.

A review of the disaster history in each area is basic data to determine safe zones. The level of risk from each area can be known. The risk level indicates the level of safety. Safe zones can be divided into categories. Finally, a residential area can be placed in a safe area to prevent the risk of natural disasters in the future.

The impact of the flash floods in Sumatra was enormous due to a combination of factors. Big lessons can be learned from the factors of the disaster and the responses. A disaster warning system is important for mitigating risks. The government can realize by providing an emergency message-sending machine to send warning signals to the entire community and relevant parties.

The machine is based on SMS (Short Message Service), so messages are sent in real time to mobile phones. It has a wide range, from 500 m to 2 km. This sophisticated product is available at smsbroadcaster.com.