The Enugu state government, on Friday, sensitised communities in Aninri Council Areas of the state on management and emergency preparedness to avoid impending flood.

The training which was held at Ndeabor, the headquarters of Aninri Council Area, was titled “2024 Flood Sensitisation and Preparedness Programme at Flood Prone Area in The State”.

It was organised by the Enugu State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) in collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency, Enugu Chapter.

Addressing the communities, the acting executive secretary, SEMA, Chinasa Mbah, said the Council Area was prone to flood on a yearly basis due to its flat land that affected the people.

She said the sensitisation was a way of showing proactive measures to safeguard the environment, family lives, livestock and buildings against flooding.

While appreciating Gov. Peter Mbah for giving them an opportunity to visit the local government area, she said Aninri was in red for 2024 flood forecast.

“The key reason why Mbah asked us to sensitise people in Aninri was for early warning fulfilment as Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) had released a forecast and then NEMA wrote Mbah informing him about the forecast.

“His Excellency wants to alleviate poverty, ensure safe environment, security of lives and property, so the sensitisation is one of the proactive measures to mitigate flooding.

“I am impressed at their level of participation and questions they asked.

She urged those living close to Ivo River and other rivers to start evacuating their things on time before the flood comes.

Speaking also, the South-East zonal director, NEMA, James Major, encouraged them to observe all the necessary precautions to avoid being victims of flood.

He said the training was driven by SEMA, urging farmers to insure their farms so that they can be compensated in the event of emergency and disaster.

“We have been instructed by our headquarters to sensitise farmers on the need to insure their farms as the government cannot compensate all the farmers for their loss as result of disaster but insurance companies will do,” he advised.

Taking them on causes of flood, impacts and management, Ekeh Kennedy, the human resource officer, NEMA, said NiMet projected rainfall in many states which would impact heavily on health, agriculture, livelihood, livestock, infrastructure and environment.

He listed the causes of flooding to include topography of an area, excessive rainfall and increase in runoff volumes while human induced causes of flood include encroachment on river beds, embankment failures.

Others are blockage of drainage and waterways, dumping of refuse in drains, poor waste management, narrow streets and many others which he advised them to avoid.

He added that floods had disaster impacts like loss of life and property, pollution of environment, loss of agricultural products and arable lands and damage to infrastructures, admonishing them to abide by the precautions given to them.

“I advise you to plant varieties of crops that could be harvested before flooding comes,” he said.

Appreciating the state government, SEMA and NEMA, the traditional ruler of Ndeaboh community, HRH Ben Eze said the training came at the right time as the flood was around the corner.

He urged the people to take home the message especially to the grassroots and put them in practice.

He equally warned them against bush burning in search of rodents, saying it causes floods. He pledged to link interested farmers to where they can try to insure their farm against disaster.

(NAN)