Determining emergency evacuation aid for flood disaster preparedness

Abstract

Flood is one of natural hazard that gives a significant impact to the environment and society. East Coast area of Malaysia in December 2014 was shocked by worst flood disaster history within 100 years. Flood occurred had resulted significant losses and threatening the population when more than 4.82 million people across six states were sink flooded. In order to reduce the risk of flood disaster, appropriate plans and methods must be developed. In this case, the Geographic Information System (GIS) application can be used to assist in flood management in response to disaster vulnerability for risk reduction among society who living with flood. Pilot study was conducted in Kuala Krai district, Kelantan to determine an Emergency Evacuation Aid for flood preparedness management by using GIS. In this study, digital elevation model (DEM) data, GPS data, Flood Model data and land use data were used in the production of flood risk vulnerability map for the study area. On the map, location of evacuation centres which endorsed by Department of Society Welfare (JKM) were identified and plotted out. Analysis to determine vulnerability of each evacuation centres are being conducted based on five flood hazard level by JPBD standard. As a result, evacuation centres that located within green zone (very low hazard), yellowish green zone (low hazard), light brown (moderate), dark brown (high hazard) and red zone (very high hazard) can be pointed out. To reduce the risk, suggestion of mobilization options from high and moderate hazard area to evacuation centres located within five kilometres buffer radius from low hazard area are proposed. It is expected that this vulnerability map and evacuation aid plan will be able to assist the responsible parties to communicate and give an option to those affected people to ensure the effectiveness of the emergency response assistance and aid to victims for better preparedness capability.