NEMA Unveils Disaster Report to Mitigate Flood in 27 States, 121 LGs
To avert massive devastation of human lives and properties to be occasioned by this year’s looming flood, the ‘2021 Disaster Risk Management Implications Report’ has been unveiled.
The document is an outcome of meticulous and detailed analysis of the Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) and the Annul Flood Outlook, earlier released by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA).
The Report, produced by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), was released to key stakeholders and newsmen, in Abuja, on Thursday.
Recalled that NiMet SCP, indicated a general annual rainfall amount of between normal to above-normal for most parts of Nigeria.
The NIHSA 2021 flood outlook on the other hand, indicate that 121 Local Government Areas in 27 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), will expect a high probability of flood risk.
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The Director General of NEMA, Mr. Ahmed Mustapha Habib, at the public presentation of the document, said the Report is expected to support NEMA partners including line emergency responders, especially State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs) to produce appropriate early warning messages, alerts, jingles and fliers for dissemination to the public.
“This document will also identify communities at risk, safe locations for the setting up of temporary shelters through its risk mapping. The document also enables preparation for the stockpiling and prepositioning of humanitarian relief for appropriate and timely intervention to persons affected by floods and associated hazards,” he further said.
According to the newly-appointed NEMA boss, the recent experience on new and emerging challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic, safety and security concerns have no doubt become essential drivers to disaster early waring communication.
Mustapha Habib, noted that emergency responders are always local, hence must be given the right information to enable effective disaster risk communication.
He said: “Today’s release of the 2021 Disaster Risk Management Implications Report marks the beginning of series of events throughout the rainy season including emergency coordination meetings to review response and mitigation strategies on sudden onset hydro-meteorological disasters to ensure better coordination of human and material resources.”
