Storm, flash floods on day Penangites participate in Global Climate March

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Flash floods struck South East Penang Island last night, on the same day when 60-70 Penangites participated in George Town in solidarity with a Global Climate March ahead of climate talks in Paris beginning today.

The crowd at the march in Penang may have been small but seeds of awareness of climate change have been planted, and this knowledge will spread as the days pass and we feel the impact impact of changing weather patterns more and more.

As for the flash floods, It is not just a question of inadequate flood mitigation, but the intensity of storms – 80mm of rain within a short time. The more frequent howling and whistling of gusts of wind, clearly audible to those living in highrise flats, is also something fairly new.

Two other factors are also contributing to flash floods.

  • Over-development and high-density development without taking into account drainage infrastructure, aggravated by the missing Penang Island Local Plan.
  • The clearing of hills, including Botak Hill, and the pouring of concrete and tar over many green spaces, including private gardens, has contributed to rapid surface water run-off and inadequate green cover to absorb the extra run-off. Yesterday, for instance, I noticed water gushing out from USM onto Jalan Sungai Dua close to the junction with Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah.

Areas affected: Teluk Kumbar, Bayan Lepas, Batu Maung – Taman Iping,  Penang International  Airport,  Bayan Baru, Bukit Jambul and Pesta Pulau Pinang in Sungai Dua.

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owc
owc
1 Jan 2016 10.04am

Is the Warm Winter Because of El Nino or Climate Change?

The warm winter in a large part of the U.S. and its impact on energy prices.

Gary Kim
Gary Kim
5 Dec 2015 11.41am

Up to $44 trillion could be going up in smoke if the world does not act on climate change, according to the latest piece of research from U.S. banking giant Citigroup.

The report – Energy Darwinism II: Why a Low Carbon Future Doesn’t Have to Cost the Earth — has forecast that spending on energy will hit around $200 trillion in the next 25 years.

benny
benny
4 Dec 2015 1.36pm
glissantia
glissantia
1 Dec 2015 1.13pm

The global capitalist class and the US Taliban are all the same. They believe they are exempt from climate change.

Hooray
Hooray
1 Dec 2015 8.08am

Developers may charge higher per square feet prices with reasons they have to build deeper drainage system to pass out the high volume of water from ever common stormy days ahead?

benny
benny
1 Dec 2015 1.43pm
Reply to  Hooray

A tender for a RM3million flood mitigation project at Sungai Teluk Kumbar is expected to be called sometime next year.

Penang Local Government, Flood Mitigation and Traffic Management Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said a consultant has been appointed to design the system for the project which includes upgrading the pump house there. He said flooding happened at the area as the houses there were lower than the river surface and so a more efficient pump system was needed to pump the water away.

http://www.thesundaily.my/news/1625827

owc
owc
3 Dec 2015 12.30pm
Reply to  benny

Good to highlight solutions, not just problems.

benny
benny
7 Dec 2015 9.38am
Reply to  benny
Nick
Nick
30 Nov 2015 8.47pm

Right on the spot raj!!!

rajraman666
rajraman666
1 Dec 2015 8.13pm
Reply to  Nick

Nick i don’t know whether you refer to me.
If yes thank you by calling me raj.

rajraman. Just wondering Nick how come you got 3 votes when ( if you praise me ) but i only got 2 votes with one negative votes?
Think about it Nick – will you please.

benny
benny
30 Nov 2015 7.31pm

Flash flood is now common in Malaysian towns and cities.
Twice the JB city centre at Jln Wong Ah Fook/JBCC were hit by flash flood this month:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vcFxrkJe6Cs

tunglang
tunglang
1 Dec 2015 9.05am
Reply to  benny

It’s like saying, “Indon haze has come to stay, quit smoking but start vaping”
Let’s smoke out the CAT from Botak Hill. Or to be more precise, the Niao Kong.

Don Anamalai
Don Anamalai
2 Dec 2015 9.42am
Reply to  tunglang

Flood and vaping must go.
But Penangites are Ready for Psy (Najib please take note):

rajraman666
rajraman666
30 Nov 2015 6.51pm

Billy will say it an act of GOD like Samy.
Praise the “Lord of Penang Deity” please and don’t ask question and ask question will be Expired Life out of Frustration.
Anil – don’t post to much about overdevelop. Are you frustrated or concern about this kind of disaster Anil?
rajraman. Hit from the back to Billy.