Johor government to enhance ‘Smart City’ technology for early extreme weather warnings

Johor's government plans to upgrade its 'Smart City' technology to provide early flood warnings to residents during extreme heavy rains. The new system will send notifications directly to mobile phones through a dedicated smart application, according to State Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor.

Shukor emphasized that the timely implementation of this initiative would ensure crucial warning information reaches the public swiftly, enabling a quicker response to safeguard lives and property.

To achieve this, Shukor stressed the need to collect as many mobile phone numbers as possible, so residents can immediately start receiving notifications about extreme weather conditions. In Japan, an early warning notification is sent to individuals within a 200-meter to 300-meter radius of adverse weather conditions. Such notifications also advise the public to avoid high-risk areas or routes that are likely to be inundated by floodwaters.

During a recent meeting chaired by Shukor, Johor Bahru City Council (MBJB) officials discussed the severe flash floods that hit several locations in the city the previous day. Shukor mentioned that two flood warning sirens were operational during yesterday's incident, with each sounding three times. However, he admitted that the sirens might not have been loud enough, as not everyone heard them.

He added that the issue lies in reaching everyone with the warning, and thus, there is a need to review the system and discuss it with their technical team.