TANJUNG SELOR - The North Kalimantan Provincial Government (Kaltara) is preparing to set the meteorological disaster alert status following the potential for moderate to heavy rainfall that is expected to occur in the next two months.
Head of the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Kaltara, Andi Amriampa, said that the readiness was the result of a coordination meeting with the district/city BPBD and related agencies.
"The meeting concluded that it was necessary to determine the standby status as an initial step in strengthening preparedness," said Amriampa after a coordination meeting, Wednesday, January 7.
"Based on the report of the district/city pusdalops, there have been disasters in Bulungan Regency, especially Sekatak District, as well as in Nunukan Regency, Sembakung District," he continued.
He explained that information from BMKG showed the potential for moderate to heavy rain in the next one to three weeks, and could even continue until January-February 2026. This condition is the basis for consideration of the establishment of the meteorological disaster alert status at the provincial level.
"We will convey the results of this meeting to the Governor to get approval for the status of readiness," he said.
Amriampa emphasized that the disaster alert status is a legal umbrella for all stakeholders to take structured mitigation and preparedness steps, ranging from providing information to the public to strengthening cross-sector coordination.
"Mitigation is carried out through the dissemination of information on potential disasters, while preparedness includes coordination meetings, simulations, and the readiness of human resources and infrastructure," he said.
He explained that disaster management was not solely the responsibility of the BPBD, but a joint effort between the government, TNI-Polri, the business world, academics, and the community, including through the strengthening of disaster-resilient villages.
Meanwhile, the Assistant for Government and People's Welfare of the Kaltara Provincial Government, H. Datu Iqro Ramadhan, stated that the provincial government agreed to set the disaster alert status so that all districts and cities were covered.
"Malinau, Tarakan, and Nunukan have set the disaster alert status. At the provincial level, we also agreed to set the alert status," he said.
The determination of the status, he continued, will be stated in the Governor's Decree by referring to the circulation of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB). The duration of the alert status will be adjusted to the development of weather conditions.
"The duration will be determined by the BPBD, whether it is two weeks or one month, adjusting to the dynamics of the weather," he said.
Preparedness is emphasized to be prioritized as a form of anticipation, considering that wet hydrometeorological disasters such as floods and landslides can occur without warning.
"We learn from previous major flooding events. We hope that disasters will not occur, but the government must be ready if they occur at any time," he said.
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