Water Water Everywhere

Year 2009 started with Sarawak flooding in many areas and many people was caught off guard. Not the biggest of flood that caused major damages to properties or lives but still it is something the government should seriously look into. The combination of high tide and heavy rain for three days shock many especially those badly hit areas like Bau, Lundu and even Kuching City folks, not to mention those in Sibu whose areas are flood pronged during these wet seasons.
On 13th January, as I was driving back to Kuching from Sibu I was caught in the flood myself at Serian areas especially the stretch of road from Ranchan Pool to the Serian Bridge. The water level was at 'knee length' and it causes massive jam of about more than 100 vehicles, especially the smaller vehicles. The stretch is only passable to big and heavy vehicles like trucks, four wheelers, buses, trailers and tankers.
From Ranchan Pool to the Serian Bridge, many 'good samaritans' offered help with a price, i.e; RM60.00 for 'pushing', RM100.00 for towing and RM250.00 if your vehicle is put on a specially made towing truck. For kids and youths near the flooded areas its' money making time and so does those company that have special towing trucks and four wheelers. Some drivers braved the flood while others succumbed to the 'offered help' for the sake of safety and their priced vehicles.
What caught my eyes was, there was no Civil Defense team or RELA at the flooded stretch to help stranded motorists. I only saw one police man who tried his best to direct traffic and advise motorist. He told me that he has been there for three days, soaked, cold and has not have his breaks!! As I braved the flood, I saw faces of despair and passing the Serian round about, I saw traffic policemen and some Civil Defense team members chatting happily. What a disgusting sight!
My Q's are what are Civil Defense and RELA set up for then? RELA members could have helped stranded motorist either to 'help push their vehicles through the flood' thus minimising the financial strain of the stranded motorists since RELA do not have heavy machineries such as trucks or lorries to tow their vehicles as the Civil Defense have. Or help to direct the trafffic flow to eased the massive jams, because some vehicles got stranded in the flood due to uncompromising big vehicles drivers. Since the area have suffered many flood before this, why there is no action from the government to 'upgrade' the stretch?