Voices From the Ground: Lessons Learned From 2021 Flood – A Case Study of Urban Flooding

ABSTRACT Floods are a global issue causing significant social, ecological, and economic losses. In urban areas, floods often triggered by intense rainfall or typhoons that overwhelm drainage systems, leading to severe damages and threats to human life. The 2021–2022 flood in Selangor, Malaysia, particularly in Taman Sri Muda exposed major weaknesses in disaster preparedness and response. A notable 48‐h delay in evacuation operations raised public concerns about the rescue strategies and coordination among authorities, making this flood a critical case to study, as it was regarded by residents as the worst flood in 25 years since the last major flood in 1995. This study aims to identify the operational challenges faced by rescuers, explores how they were addressed, and proposes recommendations to improve future flood responses. A qualitative approach using focus group discussions (FGDs) was employed to gather insights from key agencies involved in 2021 flood rescue operation. This involved rescue agencies in Malaysia such as Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia (JBPM), Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), and Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM), capturing their perspectives and experiences. Thematic analysis revealed significant challenges in logistics, coordination, and communication, with several issues remaining unresolved despite post‐2021 improvements. By comparing these challenges with countermeasures, this study offers targeted recommendations to improve operational readiness and inter‐agency response in urban floods.