Chief minister Chow Kon Yeow said the SDCC would strengthen Penang’s disaster preparedness and response as the state government anticipates heavier rainfall from September to December.

”This command centre’s creation is timely as it shows the state government’s determination to solidify its preparations, response capabilities, and the community’s resilience in facing disasters.

“Penang is not spared from threats of natural disasters, as occurrences of flash floods serve as a clear reminder to improve early warning systems, data management and inter-agency coordination all the time,” Chow said when officiating the command centre at Komtar here today.

The SDCC is the upgraded version of the state operations room. The National Disaster Management Agency had allocated RM750,000 for the upgrade.

Chow said the command centre was equipped with a smart monitoring system that allows for real-time data collection and integration of information from various agencies.

These features, he said, would help in speeding up the state’s response to disasters as well as reducing the impact on lives, properties and public infrastructure.

53 flood hotspots identified statewide

Chow said 53 areas across the state had been classified as flood hotspots as they had experienced flash floods at least three times over the past three years.