Building Human Resilience: The Role of Community Based Training and Awareness Program (CBTAP) for Dam Related Flood Risk Management

Abstract

The structural elements of dams are prone to defects and potential failures despite continuous upgrade on design, variety of construction materials used, daily operation and maintenance efforts of dams to improve the safety of the dams, the possibility of unforeseen events of dam failures is still possible. Dams, in Malaysia are observed to integrate community in which socio-economical activities are carried out within its vicinity. Hence, severe loss of properties and most critically, human lives might bring about should dam failures occur. It is apparent that an emergency response system should be built to reduce any loss of properties or lives as well as utilizing the resources within the community. A community engagement programme is designed to guide the people about the possible threat and emergency response action aligning with the protocol or guidelines set by the dam management teams and its stakeholders. The preparedness of the community and their familiarity with the dam disaster evacuation response system could ensure higher possibilities of effective evacuation, hence minimizing further losses.