Prepare for floods in 15 councils, NEMA warns Rivers

National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has advised Rivers State Government to prepare for this year’s flooding.

South-South Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, Godwin Tepikor, gave the advice in an interview with The Guardian, yesterday,

He called on government and residents to take advantage of the yearly flood outlook to mitigate and avert losses of life and property through adequate coordination and flood early warning and sensitisation campaigns.

Tepikor, who referred to the February 17 Annual Flood Outlook for the year by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), said 15 councils of Rivers State will suffer high flood risk.

He said in Nimet forecast, Port Harcourt, Obio Akpor, Orashi region, and the Ogoni areas will suffer flooding between April, May and June.

According to him, some councils, as predicted, will experience moderate flood risk and these areas are Degema, Ogu/Bolo, Khana, Opobo/Nkoro, Akuku-Toru, Omuma, Etche, and Emohua.

Others predicted for high flood risk are: Ahoada East, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Andoni, Bonny, Tai, Asari-Toru, Eleme, Ahoada West, Abua/Odual, Port Harcourt, Obio/Apkor, Ikwerre, Gokana, Okrika and Oyigbo councils.

He said: “From the prediction, some councils are expected to experience flooding from April, May, and June this year. As we go along this month, it is expected that there will be heavy rainfall, which will herald flooding.

“I want to advise that government and residents should take advantage of the yearly flood outlook to mitigate and avert losses of life and property through adequate coordination and flood early warning and sensitization campaigns.”

He also advised all relevant frontline responders to intensify their preparedness efforts to carry out early warnings targeting vulnerable communities, urging government and residents to prepare for evacuation to higher grounds as he advised desilting of drainages and water channels to enable free flow of water.