Flooding: SEMA, others embark on early sensitization, warning of flood prone Anambra communities

ANAMBRA State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), in conjunction with the Nigeria Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, International Organization for Migration, IOM, and Anambra State Executive Council, ANSEC has embarked on early warning sensitization visit to flood prone communities in the state.

The flood prone communities visited include Ayamelum, Awka North, Anambra East, Anambra West, Ogbaru and Ihiala Local Government Areas, LGAs.

The Executive Secretary, SEMA, Paul Odenigbo while speaking on the visit urged the affected communities to prepare, “as this year’s flood would be slightly above normal as predicted by the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET) and Nigeria Hydrological Agency, NIHSA.’’

He explained that the essence of the early sensitization visit was to make sure people and communities were not caught unawares when the flood rose.

The Zonal Coordinator, NEMA, South East Zone, Ngozi Echeazu represented by Mr. Kingsley Okolo called on town planning authorities of the LGAs visited to ensure that people abide by all the flood precautionary measures when building houses.

The Chairman of Anambra West LGA, Mr. Felix Ikeji, commended the delegation for their timely sensitization and promised to ensure that the message of early flood preparation gets to the grassroots.

Blessings Okafor of Anambra State Erosion, Watersheds and Climate Change Agency, ANSEWCCA, advised the people of the flood prone areas to develop the habit of planting trees to check the menacing movement of flood waters.

A representative of International Organization for Migration, IOM, Mr. Samuel Hezekiah cautioned residents of the areas against dumping of refuse inside drainage and water channels.