TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Lt. Gen. Suharyanto instructed regional agencies or BPBD across Indonesia to immediately implement the five-stage flood and landslide emergency alerts ahead of the Christmas and New Year holidays.

“This is necessary as several regions have the potential to experience moderate to high-intensity rainfall during this year's rainy season,” Suharyanto said when chairing the national disaster preparedness meeting, as quoted from his statement broadcast in Jakarta, on Thursday, Dec. 21.

In the meeting, Suharyanto instructed BPBD to immediately conduct a preparedness call involving all Regional Leadership Communication Forum or Forkompimda and volunteers to check the readiness of equipment, personnel, and budget in dealing with potential hydrometeorological disasters.

He also urged BPBD, especially those in areas prone to hydrometeorological disasters, to immediately anticipate and issue an emergency alert decree (SK) to optimize preparedness efforts before a disaster occurs.

“When a disaster occurs, immediately set the Emergency Response status. But we can anticipate it. For this reason, areas that are predicted to experience a wet hydrometeorological disaster can issue an emergency alert letter,” he emphasized.

Suharyanto also encouraged regional governments, through the BPBD, to submit requests for tools, equipment, and budget support to the BNPB, set up command posts, prepare operational plans, and deploy equipment as part of efforts to mitigate potential disasters during the holiday season.

ANTARA

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