Information gathered from the CBO and squatter residents revealed that the absence of flood warning
system means that most of them personally monitor for signs of flooding. This is based on past
experience shared among them which is one aspect of community-based risk communication. The most
common method is for them to pay close attention to prolonged heavy rain (ranging from one hour to
three hours in duration) and observations of the water level of the rivers. They also usually observe the
rain that falls in the surrounding areas, such as in the city centre of Kuala Lumpur and the neighbouring
communities of Kepong and Jinjang. Heavy rain in these areas will usually result in overflowing of the
river banks in Segambut and may lead to flooding in the neighbouring communities. According to a
number of respondents, whenever it rains upstream, the water in the two rivers in the study area would
usually flow faster than normal and this is regarded as a sign of impending flood.