PUB launches Flash campaign to get the public ready for floods
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The campaign utilises a white beard as a creative device that appears when one is "flood-wise".
PHOTO: PUB
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SINGAPORE - This rainy season, remember the mnemonic Flash to avoid getting caught in a flood.
National water agency PUB on Nov 20 launched its first campaign to encourage the public to be ready for floods amid erratic weather and more intense storms
The public is advised to follow these tips:
• Follow PUB flood alerts
• Learn how to be flood-ready
• Avoid flooded areas
• Share PUB flood updates
• Help others where possible
In addition to campaign posters and a minute-long video clip, PUB said it is working with the likes of ride-hailing company CDG Zig, Grab and the Motorist platform to share flood safety tips with its users.
The agency is also working with Grab to push out flood alerts to its drivers and food delivery riders via its app, by 2025.
From Dec 2, drivers can also collect a Flood-Wise Drive car decal from any Esso station. Vehicles spotted with the decal from Dec 2 to 22 stand to win $100 worth of FairPrice vouchers.
The decal includes advice to motorists, such as not to drive through flood waters that are above kerb height.
Car sharing companies BlueSG and Lumens will also put these decals on their vehicles.
The public can get flood alerts via PUB’s Telegram channel (t./me/pubfloodalerts) and the myENV app.
Mr Maurice Neo, director of PUB’s catchment and waterways department, said the public needs to be ready for floods, even as the agency continues to enhance Singapore’s drainage infrastructure.
“We are witnessing more extreme weather events around the world, which serve as a stark reminder of the climate-change reality,” he said.
In the lead-up to the year-end monsoon season, the agency said it has stepped up checks across the island to make sure that public drains are not blocked and can carry storm water effectively. This is especially so for key buildings and flood-prone areas.
PUB also offers residents in flood-prone areas barriers and inflatable bags, which can be used quickly during heavy rain to keep out flood waters.
Transport operators like SMRT also conduct annual exercises across all public train lines to make sure that their employees are ready to keep the trains moving during floods.
This includes the installation of flood barriers at station entrances, and the activation of flood response teams to affected stations.
PUB also pointed out that building owners must protect their properties against floods through proper maintenance of their internal drainage systems and the use of flood protection measures.
Real estate group CapitaLand and Esplanade were cited as examples of businesses that have done so.
Moderate to heavy thundery showers are predicted over most parts of the island on most days
Singapore was hit by flash floods on Nov 16 and 17, with the heaviest rainfall across both days recorded at 108.4mm in north-western Singapore from 2.10pm to 4pm on Nov 16.
This rainfall amounted to 43 per cent of Singapore’s average monthly rainfall in November and lies within the top 3 per cent of maximum daily rainfall records since 1978, PUB said previously.
Correction note: In an earlier version of the story, we said that MRT operators conduct annual flood readiness exercises across all public train lines. PUB has since clarified that this refers particularly to SMRT.
