The National Emergency Management Agency has recommended contingency plans for states of the federation to address the challenges of flooding and other disasters.

The Agency’s Head of Operations for Abia and Imo states, Nnamdi Igwe, made the recommendation while speaking with journalists in Owerri, on Sunday, following a five-day workshop for emergency responders on disaster preparedness and flood response.

Mr Igwe, who described the workshop as “imperative,” said that given the rainy season and rising floods as well as expert predictions, it was necessary for Imo State to produce contingency plans to tackle the situation.

He stated that this would help to address location-specific challenges and help emergency responders adapt to the needs of affected communities, under the coordination of NEMA.

He added that following the successful workshop, it would be necessary to document group strategies for inclusion in state disaster contingency plans.

Mr Igwe urged the Imo State government and the state’s emergency responders to organise periodic simulation exercises based on the outputs of the workshop.

He also called for sustained stakeholders dialogue post-training through a multi-agency disaster coordination forum.

According to him, the steps would help make it difficult for responders to get caught off guard, thus deepening their awareness and creating better survival chances for victims of disasters.

He stated, “State governments cannot afford to leave emergencies unattended to and must therefore, make conscious decisions beforehand to save lives and property.’’

He further said that since emergencies create opportunities for abuse and neglect, protection measures would be necessary to help uphold human rights and minimise harm to vulnerable groups.

Mr Igwe urged responders not to despair in the face of challenges but to seek continued synergy with NEMA for best results.

(NAN)