Malaysia: October is national disaster preparedness month

October will be the National Disaster Preparedness Month each year to alert the people to make early preparations in facing floods, announces Bernama. This will include a campaign and programmes on preparations in facing floods involving all relevant parties and using the existing media channels.

"We already have the plan and simulation but preparations at the lower level are important, while education and preparedness of the masses is a continuous process towards improvement in managing disasters," said Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek. "The month of October is chosen as it is considered a suitable time because the monsoon season usually starts around November. But we need always to be prepared as a disaster can occur any time."