A study on causes of flood at Sungai Isap and Jalan Tun Ismail, Kuantan, Pahang

• Main Author: Ainatul Shahirah, Mohd Saru
• Format: Undergraduates Project Papers
• Language: English
• Published: 2012
• Subjects: TC Hydraulic engineering. Ocean engineering
• Online Access: http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/7901/1/AINATUL_SHAHIRAH_BINTI_MOHD_SARU.PDF; http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/7901/

Sungai Isap of Kuantan, Pahang is located in a flood prone area. The largest flood was occurred on the late December 2001 caused inundation on the entire residential area. While on December 2011, flood has occurred at Jalan Tun Ismail which is the area does not normally experiences flood. The research is focused on finding the causes of flood in both areas hence the findings are compared to identify the potential similarities between the causes of these two events. This paper also examined the community's level of awareness toward floods and the effectiveness of flood warning systems implemented by authorities. The primary data were obtained through distribution of questionnaire to 200 respondents, and the data were strengthening by interviewing the local communities who were randomly selected along with the relevant parties which are related with flood matters. Participatory Statistically Program for Social Study (SPSS) was applied to analyze the data obtained through questionnaires. The occurrence of these floods cannot be attributed only to natural causes of heavy precipitations and tidal action. A combination of human activities in developing the areas which is resulting in increasing number of the impervious land, provide inadequate drainage systems and the choice of humans to occupy the hazardous floodplains has exacerbated the incidence of flooding when associated with natural causes. It is observed that the level of awareness of respondent towards their ability as community to limit the impact of floods did differ across their locations, with greater awareness of respondent in locations of Sungai Isap than among respondent at Jalan Tun Ismail. Communities also demanded the authorities to enhance the effectiveness of flood warning to reduce flood risk. Strengthening and raising public awareness is necessary as community knowledge is very important to improve preparedness and mitigation to reduce impact due to flood.