SIBU: Members of the public here were yesterday urged to obtain the latest and accurate information pertaining to weather forecast, water level and rain through both the electronic and print media.

“This is because the frequent high tide in the past two months (on some occasions reaching 6.3 metres), if compounded by continuous downpour could result in flood or flash flood in the low-lying areas and river banks.

“As such, we need to be on the alert for such a situation,” Sibu Acting Resident Ismail Mohd Hanis said in a press statement faxed to The Borneo Post here yesterday.

He also advised the public to make early preparations including stocking daily necessities and relocating valuable items to higher ground.

“At all times, safety must be given priority and children should be kept away from playing in the flood waters as this may endanger their safety and health.”

The public, he advised, should comply if they were asked by the authorities to evacuate.

According to Hanis, in view of the situation, he had called for a meeting of the Disaster and Relief Committee Sibu Division recently to gather the feedback from relevant departments/agencies while at the same time to assess the preparations including logistics.

A total of 35 officers from various agencies attended the meeting.

“Overall, I’m pleased with the level of preparation of departments/agencies such as the police, army, Health, DID, JKR, Welfare, SMC, SRDC, JPA3, Bomba, Rela and the district offices.

“The early preparations include cleaning of clogged drains, erecting of marking posts along roads and raising the level of roads at several low-lying areas,” he said.

Meanwhile, for the time being, the operations room (at all district offices) would be open from 8am to 5pm.

The time might be extended to 6pm, 7pm or 8pm depending on the observation from time to time.

The public are advised to contact the following numbers for enquiries: Sibu District Office: 084-330219/330244; Sibu district officer: 019-8152727 and Sarawak Administrative Officer (SAO) Khalid Andong: 013-8368877, Kanowit District Office: 084-752963; Kanowit district officer: 013-8010577 and SAO Sandin Sanjah: 019-8759401, Selangau District Office: 084-366035; Selangau district officer: 014-8842008 and SAO Maria Nadja Jimmy Jalil: 019-8345432.