Second siren? Time to evacuate, residents told
Penang authorities are educating residents on a new two-stage flood siren system to improve disaster preparedness. The initiative aims to reduce panic and ensure safe evacuations during flood events.
Why it matters
Effective early warning systems are critical for community safety in regions increasingly vulnerable to climate-related flooding.
GEORGE TOWN: If the flood warning siren sounds for a second time, it means it is time to immediately evacuate to higher ground.
This is what residents in flood-prone areas across Penang are being taught by the state’s Irrigation and Drainage Department as part of efforts to improve flood preparedness.
Its deputy director Mohamad Suaimi Ramli said the initiative aims to enhance disaster preparedness and reduce panic among residents during floods.
“Through this programme, we teach residents what to prepare, where to go and how to evacuate safely instead of reacting in panic,” he said.
The warning system uses a two-stage siren. The first is a continuous, slow-tempo, high-frequency siren indicating a flood warning and alerting residents to prepare for possible evacuation.
The second is a continuous, fast-tempo, very high-frequency siren indicating imminent danger and the need to evacuate immediately to higher ground.
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