The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has alerted 18 Local Government Areas in Rivers State to prepare for flooding, urging government to create designated Internally Displaced Persons, IDP camps.
South-South zonal director of NEMA, Walson Brandon gave the advised during a Radio Programme in Port Harcourt.
He, however, urged residents of the 18 LGAs not to panic, stressing that only 11 LGAs will suffer severe flooding while 7 would suffer mild flooding.
According to him, parts of Akuku-Toru, Ahoada-West, Ahoada-East, Andoni, Asari-Toru, Abua /Odual, Bonny, Degema, Etche, Gokana, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Oyigbo, Obio-Akpor, Ogu Bolo, Okrika, Opobo-Nkoro, Port Harcourt City and Tai will be heavily impacted by flooding this year and urged those living in and around the low-level areas to begin gathering their valuables to safeguard them, and also identify the designated IDP camp for ease of movement as NEMA is also making adequate arrangement to assist flood disaster-prone areas.
Brandon expressed worry that the Rivers State Government is yet to set up Emergency Management procedures to mitigate the impeding flooding as local and state government are the first respondents in emergency cases.
He also explained that on flash floods, the normal to near normal rainfall pattern in the country does not rule out the possibility of isolated flash floods due to increasing high-intensity rainfall at the peak of the season, especially in areas that are naturally prone to flooding, adding that residents can also assist the government to prevent flooding of urban Areas and not build on water channels, avoid dumping of refuse in the drains and clear their drainage’s to accommodate volumes of water after each rainfall.
