TASEK GELUGOR, Nov 10 — The challenges faced by mothers can never be measured, more so in disaster situations like the recent devastating floods in Penang.

Teenager Nur Hakimah Nordin, who delivered her son Muhammad Ammar Hasif on October 2, was forced to shorten her confinement period when she had to evacuate her home after the extraordinary rainfall caused deadly floods.

Nur Hakimah, 19, told Malay Mail she and her family were in a classroom with seven other families at a temporary relief centre at Sekolah Agama Labuh Banting here.

"There was just no privacy or freedom. I was not even able to nurse my son as there were so many people, including men, walking in and out of the classroom,” she said.

Nur Hakimah said the relief centre was beset with problems.

"The power supply was cut several hours after we arrived early on Sunday morning,” she said.

"It was extremely uncomfortable for my family. The power outage attracted mosquitoes and I was worried about my baby getting bitten.”

Power was only restored on Monday with a generator, which proved to be another distraction for month-old Muhammad Ammar.

"It was good they managed to get power supply but the generator was noisy and my son just could not sleep,” she said.

Nur Hakimah’s husband, Mohd Zamir Saidin, 30, said they were offered a tent with more privacy but were compelled to decline putting up in the tent.

"The tents have poor ventilation and that would not have been good for our baby. We would have had the privacy but we wanted our baby to be comfortable.”

Nur Hakimah related her family’s harrowing experience as they fled their home on Saturday night to escape rising flood waters in their home in Kampung Baru Labuh Banting.

"We hurriedly bundled Muhammad Ammar. My husband, my mother-in-law and I had to escape the rising waters quickly,” she said.

"At 10.30pm the water was ankle-deep but up to waist level just an hour later.

"In the mad rush we grabbed whatever we could. We were forced to leave some baby items behind.

"After six days, the water finally receded and we hope to go home soon. However, there is the damage and massive cleaning to worry about now. There is just mud everywhere.

"We hope the mess can be cleaned up soon with the help of volunteers.”

As of yesterday, Nur Hakimah and her family were among 319 people from 70 families still sheltering at the school.