Rivers Prepares For Flood Emergency

To ensure early management of emergency situations that would arise from predictions by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) of flood around Rivers State, Governor Nyesom Wike, has directed that proactive measures be embarked on by the concerned local government areas and relevant government agencies to alleviate the suffering of Rivers people.
Speaking through the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Tammy Danagogo, in Port Harcourt, during a consultative meeting with LGA chairmen, NEMA officials and permanent secretaries of concerned ministries, Wike said he was disturbed by the level of suffering people affected by the natural disaster undergo.
According to him, the indicated high and low probable areas where flooding is predicted in 2019 include Degema, ONELGA, Obio/Akpo, Abua/Odua, Ahoada East, Ahoada West, Akuku-Toru, Gokana, Opopo, Port Harcourt City, Bonny, Gokana, Oyigbo and Etche local government areas.
He said, early proactive measures are necessary to minimize emergency situations from the flooding while asking that residents and indigenes adhere to the call to vacate when the floods begin.
Earlier, NEMA represented by Mr Egwu Demain, explained that, early information sharing and creation of local emergency management committee structures in the LGA to foster early warning was necessary.
He said some of the reasons of reoccurring flooding in the state are as a result of its location by the bank of the Atlantic Ocean and blockage of the waterways by some builders.
The LGA chairmen presented their cases and gave better background to their peculiar flood challenges.
The Permanent Secretaries of SSGs Office, Dr George Nwaeke; Information and Communications, Pastor Paulinus Nsirim; Urban Development, Mr Chidi Aadiele; Special Duties, Mrs Ibiwari Clapton-Ogolo; and Environment, Dr Emmanuel Urang; also attended the meeting.
Meawnhile, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has urged the local government councils in the country to set up and equip their Local Emergency Management Agencies (LEMAs) to respond to disaster situations.
The NEMA South-East Coordinator, Mr Fred Anusim, told newsmen in Enugu, yesterday, that emergency and disaster response is everybody’s business.
Anusim spoke on the sideline of the agency’s ongoing programme to sensitise residents of Enugu State living in low land areas about the impending flooding as predicted by experts.
The National Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the National Hydrological Service Agency (NIHSA) had warned of flooding in some states of the federation, including Enugu.
The coordinator said that LEMAs ought to be the first responders to any disaster or emergency situations before the State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs) and NEMA.
“For instance, we have concluded sensitisation in communities in the five council areas of Enugu state living in low land areas about two weeks ago.