Increasing awareness and preparing as best as possible we believe is still the right way to minimize the potential impact of hydrometeorological disasters.
By
KOMPAS EDITOR
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KOMPAS/EMANUEL EDI SAPUTRA
Residents of Sintang District, Sintang Regency, West Kalimantan, wade through the floods by boat, Saturday (10/30/2021). The height of the flood in the area ranges from 50 cm-1 meter.
It is common knowledge that in Indonesia the rainy season generally falls in October.
If at the beginning of November we find the sky is generally grey and it rains often, that's normal. If there is one thing that makes the weather different from the past, it is the intensity of the weather and the rainfall that occurs. The rainy season does not come slowly and gradually, but seems to fall straight away, heavily and with high rainfall.
We also remember the forecasts made by weather experts and the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), that in addition to the rainy season coming earlier, the season will also be marked by the La Niña phenomenon. As reported by this daily, on Monday (11/8/2021), La Nina is currently happening. There is a temperature anomaly in the Pacific Ocean which has an impact on increasing rainfall in the Indonesia region, 20-70 percent above normal. This risks triggering hydrometeorological disasters, such as floods, landslides and tropical storms.
In its study, the BMKG, which is responsible for climate and meteorological information, shows that rainfall will increase from November 2021 to January 2022, especially in southern Sumatra, Java, southern Kalimantan, southern Sulawesi, Bali and as far as East Nusa Tenggara. This prediction came true when there was a major flood in Melawi regency, West Kalimantan; landslides in Garut regency, West Java; flash floods in Batu city, East Java; and disasters in other areas.
Considering the extreme weather forecast to last until January, we can't help but increase our vigilance to deal with it. Our track record shows that we often see the preparations for floods and other hydrometeorological disasters were only carried out close to the arrival of the rainy season. In fact, there were measures that were just carried out when the season came. We don't know why, but it often reminds us of the phrase "too little, too late".
Kompas/Priyombodo
Residents walk in the middle of the flood that submerged Bintaro Permai IV street, Pesanggrahan, South Jakarta, Sunday (11/7/2021). Floods due to heavy rain cut off the road section. Meanwhile, the commuter line train tracks next to the road were flooded.
This is where as a nation we are tested, how far we can fulfill our promise and determination to become a knowledge-based nation and a learning nation. If it is consistent with that determination and promise, the sight of a new excavation worker digging before the rainy season will no longer exist. Even in the bureaucracy, the budget has been prepared long before the rainy season arrives.
Maybe there are factors that we don't fully know. In this case, it concerns the extremities of the weather, so it could be that the infrastructure that we have improved has not been able to deal with heavy rainfall.
In this case, it is also good for us to remember the advice, “Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.” We know, during the transition period of climate change and extreme weather, the potential for disasters is not yet fully understood. Increasing awareness and preparing as best as possible we believe is still the right way to minimize the potential impact of hydrometeorological disasters.
