BPBD Lebak Asks Residents To Be Alert To Hydrometeorological Disasters

JAKARTA - The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Lebak Regency has asked the people in the area to be aware of the potential for hydrometeorological disasters amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We hope that residents will be ready to face the threat of natural disasters," said Lebak Regency BPBD officer, Rohmat, as quoted by Antara , Saturday, October 17.

The potential for hydrometerological disasters, including floods, flash floods, tornadoes, and landslides.

In early 2020, six sub-districts in Lebak Regency were hit by a natural disaster which resulted in nine people dying and thousands of people being displaced.

In connection with this incident, BPBD Lebak has disseminated information to district, village, village and community officials to be prepared to face the threat of hydrometerological disasters.

So far, he said, the Lebak Regency area has become a regular for natural disasters if the bad weather is marked by heavy rain accompanied by strong winds and lightning.

In addition, BPBD Lebak optimizes socialization and education for the prevention of floods, flash floods, tornadoes, and landslides.

"We hope that increasing awareness can reduce the risk of disaster so as not to cause casualties," he said.

He said that currently thousands of residents of Lebak Regency live in areas prone to natural disasters, because there are rivers, hills and mountains.

Communities living in disaster-prone areas are spread across 42 villages in Wanasalam, Banjarsari, Rangkasbitung, Warunggunung, Cileles, Cibadak, Leuwidamar, Bayah, Cikulur, Cimarga, Kalanganyar, Sobang, Cibeber, Cilograng and Sajira districts.

Currently, he said, the people in the area have coordinated with the sub-district and the local BPBD regarding natural disaster alertness.

"We ask sub-district officials to continue monitoring disaster-prone villages in order to reduce the risk of natural disasters," he said.