Raising awareness during the rainy season with practical tips and innovative outreach efforts.
Singapore’s national water agency, PUB, has unveiled its first public campaign to educate citizens on flood preparedness amid increasingly erratic weather caused by climate change. The “Flash” mnemonic offers practical guidance for staying safe during floods:
Follow PUB flood alerts.
Learn how to be flood-ready.
Avoid flooded areas.
Share PUB flood updates.
Help others where possible.
Campaign Highlights
The initiative includes campaign posters, a video clip, and partnerships with ride-hailing platforms like Grab and CDG Zig. By 2025, Grab plans to deliver real-time flood alerts to its drivers and riders through its app.
Starting December 2, motorists can pick up Flood-Wise Drive decals at Esso stations. These decals include tips for driving safely during floods, such as avoiding waters above kerb height. Vehicles displaying the decal between December 2 and 22 could win $100 FairPrice vouchers.
Car-sharing services like BlueSG and Lumens will also feature these decals on their vehicles, reinforcing safety messages.
Leveraging Technology and Community Support
PUB is enhancing its communication channels, offering flood alerts via Telegram and the myENV app. It is also collaborating with businesses like CapitaLand and Esplanade, which have adopted flood protection measures, including inflatable bags and barriers for properties in flood-prone areas.
Mr. Maurice Neo, PUB’s director of catchment and waterways, emphasized the need for public readiness, stating, “We are witnessing more extreme weather events globally, underscoring the reality of climate change.”
Pre-Monsoon Preparations
In anticipation of the year-end monsoon, PUB has intensified checks on public drains to ensure they remain unblocked. Transport operators like SMRT conduct annual flood response drills, including deploying barriers at MRT stations and activating response teams during emergencies.
Recent Floods Highlight Urgency
Heavy rains on November 16 and 17 caused flash floods across Singapore, with rainfall reaching 108.4mm in northwestern areas—43% of the average monthly rainfall for November. This places it among the top 3% of maximum daily rainfall records since 1978.
PUB’s campaign underscores the importance of individual and community action in mitigating flood risks as Singapore braces for wetter weather in the weeks ahead.
