Malaysia’s monsoon season has a rhythm of its own. Most days bring nothing more than familiar showers, but every year, certain states face rising waters that disrupt homes, routines, and sometimes even the things we rely on most — our devices.
In moments like these, a little preparation goes a long way. Here’s a simple, practical guide on how to safeguard your gadgets, your data, and your peace of mind during flood season.
(Staying prepared, connected, and protected — rain or shine.)
1. Back Up Your Memories Before the Rain Comes
The truth is, floods don’t just damage furniture or walls — they can wipe out years of digital life in seconds.
Photos, work files, school projects, business documents… all gone if a laptop or hard drive gets submerged.
The smart move is to back up regularly.
There are three easy ways to do it:
• Cloud backup – Google Drive, iCloud, OneDrive, Dropbox
Safe even if your home isn’t. Works automatically.
Perfect for photos, documents, and everyday files.
• External drive backup – portable SSD or HDD
Fast, secure, and useful when internet is down.
Keep the drive in a waterproof pouch or a higher shelf.
• Smartphone backup – especially important
Most people forget this. Floods don’t spare phones either.
Think of backup as insurance. Invisible, but priceless when you need it.
2. Keep Your Powerbank Charged — Always
When floods hit, electricity may be cut off for safety.
A fully charged powerbank becomes more than convenience — it becomes security.
A good routine:
Charge your powerbank every night, or at least once every 2–3 days.
And avoid letting it drop below 20% — batteries age faster that way.
If you live in a flood-prone area, consider:
• High-capacity powerbanks (20,000mAh and above)
• Fast-charging powerbanks for emergencies
During emergencies, staying connected matters — to check updates, reach loved ones, or call for help.
3. If Your Laptop or Desktop Gets Wet, Do Not Turn It On
Floodwater and electronics are a terrible combination.
But many devices that look “dead” can actually be saved — if you don’t make things worse.
Here’s what to do, calmly and correctly:
Step 1: Power off immediately (if it’s still on).
Unplug everything.
Don’t press buttons.
Don’t try to “test if it still works.”
Electricity + moisture = instant damage.
Step 2: Do not shake, blow-dry, or leave it under the sun.
These can push water deeper or warp the internal components.
Step 3: Rinse only if exposed to muddy or dirty flood water
This sounds counter-intuitive, but many technicians do it.
Clean water removes impurities that cause corrosion.
But do it gently, and only if you can bring the device for repair afterward.
Step 4: Bring it to a professional ASAP
A laptop soaked by floodwater is a race against time.
Data recovery and component cleaning must be done quickly.
Step 5: Remove the storage drive if you can
If your laptop has a removable SSD or HDD and it wasn’t submerged for long, your data might still be safe.
Store it in a dry, clean container and hand it to a technician.
Flood damage is messy, but data recovery is often possible — as long as the device is not powered on.
4. Protect the Devices You Can
A few simple habits can save you thousands of ringgit:
• Keep laptops, modems, and desktops elevated, especially on lower floors.
• Store external hard drives and powerbanks in water-resistant pouches.
• Keep charging cables and important accessories in sealed containers.
• Use a surge protector — storms often cause power spikes.
• For homes with frequent issues, consider a UPS (backup battery for your desktop or WiFi).
Smart preparation feels small…but works miracle at times, especially for flood-prone areas.
5. Stay Connected, Stay Calm
Technology doesn’t stop floods — but it helps us stay informed, safe, and ready.
Whether it’s talking to family, keeping kids entertained, or working through an unexpected downtime, having your devices protected keeps life moving even when the weather refuses to cooperate.
Flood season is part of our Malaysian story.
Let’s meet it with wisdom, preparation, and resilience.
