Signage implementation for disaster relief centres during flood disaster in Malaysia

Floods occurrence is becoming a common natural disaster that is faced by most countries in parts of the world. It is categorized as a weather-related natural disaster that can not be predicted accurately to happen. Recent studies indicated that flood is becoming among the costly and frequent natural disaster that contributed on the human loss, property and puts burden on the economic development. Malaysia meteorological records from year 2006 up to 2014 indicated that heavy monsoon rainfall has triggered floods in Malaysia's east coast area and in different parts of the country. The flood occurrence in Malaysia has made up almost 90 percent from the aspect of damage in relation to natural disaster. Therefore, preparation and planning for flood are essential to lessen the direct/indirect impact and give aid to people who are effected by it. This paper presents the aspects that is required for relief and rescue of evacuees by implementing signage to building that is designated as relief centers to facilitate evacuation during flood disaster via helicopter. An attribute data was constructed from 2014 flood data and field investigation on the buildings in flood prone areas in Kelantan as it was also the worst hit by flood disaster. It was narrowed down to areas in Pasir Mas, Kuala Krai and Kota Bharu. Two different questionnaires were developed to have input from helicopter pilots of Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), Malaysia Army and Fire Rescue Department involved in the relief and rescue operations and locals experiencing the flood to access the understanding, preferences and reaction from signage implementation to facilitate in evacuation process from relief centres. This approach help to give input in answering questions regarding what is the suitable building in determined areas to be applied as relief centers during flood disaster. The signage requirements to aid helicopter pilot during relief and rescue operation via air also was affirmed from the studies. Other understanding and reaction based on signage colour, shape, text and symbols (pictorial) and the proper signage design based on the evacuation plan designed were also will be determined from the studies as a continuous approach.