Have you been through a rainy season in Jakarta? If so, you know the scenarios: flooded streets, traffic, honking horns, more traffic, leaking roofs, flooded houses, and occasional telephone and electricity outages. Not fun!
Some areas of the city are more prone to flooding than others. Fortunately, many of Jakarta’s preferred expatriate residential areas are designed with drainage systems that reduce the risk of serious flooding. More commonly, your biggest inconvenience may be flooded roads affecting your commute to work or your children’s school.
That said, preparation is always worthwhile. Here are a few practical tips to help you minimise the disruption caused by Jakarta’s rainy season.
- Make sure your gutters, roof drains, and floor drains are free of leaves and debris. They should be cleaned regularly throughout the rainy season.
- Inspect your roof for broken or displaced tiles before the rainy season begins. Small repairs are much easier to arrange before repair contractors become busy.
- Check your ceilings for signs of leaks, including mould, water stains, or discoloration. Repair any problems early.
- Inspect your windows and doors to ensure they close properly. Heavy tropical rain is often driven sideways by strong winds, allowing water to enter through small gaps.
- Prepare an emergency kit that includes flashlights, spare batteries, portable phone chargers or power banks, bottled drinking water, basic first-aid supplies, and several days’ worth of non-perishable food. Fresh food supplies can become limited if delivery trucks cannot reach supermarkets.
- Consider using surge protectors for valuable electronics in case of brief power interruptions during severe storms.
- Purchase a floor water squeegee to help move water toward drains should minor flooding occur inside your home.
- Check the drains around your property and nearby streets. If they are blocked, notify your landlord, property manager, RT/RW, or neighbourhood authorities before heavy rain arrives.
- Ask your driver to become familiar with roads that commonly flood and identify alternative routes. Today, navigation apps such as Google Maps and Waze often provide real-time traffic and road closure information.
- Monitor weather forecasts from BMKG (Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency), particularly during periods of prolonged heavy rain.
- Store passports, immigration documents, insurance papers, and other important documents in waterproof folders or containers and keep them on an upper floor or elevated shelf if possible.
- Avoid driving through floodwater if you cannot clearly determine its depth. Even relatively shallow water can damage a vehicle’s engine and electrical systems.
- If your employer allows remote work during severe weather, ensure your laptop is charged and keep a mobile hotspot or backup internet option available.
- Floodwater may contain sewage, sharp objects, and bacteria. Avoid walking through floodwater whenever possible, wear appropriate footwear, and clean and disinfect any cuts immediately.
- Ask experienced expatriates how they have managed previous rainy seasons. Long-term residents often have valuable practical advice specific to your neighbourhood.
- Develop a maintenance plan to keep your home in good condition. If you rent your home, review your lease agreement to understand which repairs are your responsibility and which belong to the landlord. Don’t hesitate to insist on quality repairs, as temporary fixes often lead to recurring problems.
- If you employ household staff such as a gardener or housekeeper, ask them to regularly inspect drains and outdoor areas for blockages. If you rent, encourage your landlord to complete preventative maintenance before the rainy season begins.
With a little preparation, Jakarta’s rainy season can be far less stressful. While heavy rainfall may occasionally disrupt traffic or daily routines, planning ahead will help protect your home, reduce inconvenience, and keep your family safe until the sun returns.
