The local administrations in Feni have taken extensive preparations to deal with possible flooding, including keeping 224 shelters ready and stockpiling relief materials and rescue equipment.
The preparations were finalised at an emergency meeting of the District Disaster Management Committee held on Wednesday, where officials decided to ensure adequate food supplies, rescue equipment and emergency shelters to minimise the impact of any flood-related disaster.
According to the district administration, 224 shelters—80 permanent and 144 temporary—have been prepared to accommodate flood-affected people if needed.
Authorities have also directed officials to form volunteer teams at the upazila, union and ward levels and submit the lists to the district administration without delay.
To strengthen rescue operations, the number of boats available at the upazila level has been increased to 93 for use in flooded areas and rivers.
Feni District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer Md Mahbub Alam said sufficient relief materials and financial allocations have been kept ready to ensure immediate humanitarian assistance in the event of flooding.
He said the district and upazila administrations currently have 1,150 packets of dry and other food items in stock.
Besides, each upazila has reserved extra emergency dry food bags and sacks.
The district has also stockpiled 100 metric tonnes of rice for relief, Tk 500,000 in cash assistance, 595 tarpaulins, 468 jerry cans for safe water, 20 handheld loudspeakers for awareness campaigns and emergency announcements, 100 raincoats, 214 pairs of gumboots, 357 life jackets and 137 flashlights.
The district administration said adequate stocks of baby food, cattle feed and corrugated sheets for temporary repair of damaged houses have also been kept at the upazila level.
Special allocations of cash and rice designated for local members of parliament have already been sent to the upazilas to facilitate a swift emergency response through the local administration.
Feni Deputy Commissioner Monira Haque urged residents to remain alert without panicking, saying the administration is closely monitoring the overall situation to minimise possible losses from any flood.