The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has blamed the public for casulties recorded yearly during floods, saying despite early warnings and advise, many people prefer to stay in their flood prone homes.
NEMA and its counterparts in Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu states said they have set up machineries to respond to the impending floods in the zone.
The Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET) and Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency have issued fresh warnings about possible flooding in about 19 states in the country and called for preparedness to prevent the disaster.
NEMA, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and other stakeholders have taken proactive measures including sensitising the public across the zone on how to mitigate flooding if it happens.
In Anambra, the state government said it has set up about 16 Holding Centres for possible victims of flooding in the state.
The Executive Secretary of Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (AnSEMA), Chief Paul Odenigbo, told NAN that the centres were located in Ogbaru, Aguleri and Ifite Ogwari in Anambra East and Ayamelum Local Government Areas.
Anambra is one of the states exposed to flooding according to the prediction of NIMET and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NHSA).
Odenigbo said the Agency had continued to sensitise residents in the flood exposed communities and trained local people on emergency response skills.
The Executive Secretary, who said the flood was imminent, expressed worry over the reluctance of the people to vacate their homes in spite of several warnings.
He however, said that AnSEMA and NEMA were intensifying their partnership to reduce the negative impact of flooding on the people in riverine communities when it eventually happened.
“We have sensitised the people on the looming danger and told them the need to move; we have also trained local emergency response volunteers on what to do including the early signs.
“We have set up 16 Holding Centres in the Anambra North areas where flood is a problem.
“We have fumigated and put in place toilet, water, and other essential facilities to make it comfortable when people move in,” he said.
Odenigbo said the four-day flood disaster response simulation exercise codenamed “Ide Mmiri Odachi” held at Naval Outpost in Ogbaru had sharpened skills of personnel.
“The flood is real and escalating due to climate change, poor urban planning, and other environmental factors.
“The entire communities in Anambra, particularly in the riverine belts, are displaced every year, livelihoods destroyed, infrastructure eroded, and lives tragically lost,” he said.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have also undertaken an assessment tour of the disaster prone area.
Commandant Olatunde Maku, NSCDC, Anambra, urged residents in flood-prone communities in Anambra to begin to relocate upland ahead of possible flooding and take proactive and precautionary measures.
He called for collaboration with traditional rulers, Presidents-General and other relevant stakeholders in disaster preparedness and management across the state.
In response to the anticipated flooding, key stakeholders in Ebonyi have also taken proactive approach through stakeholders engagement.
Executive Secretary of the Ebonyi State Emergency Management Agency, Mr Clement Ovuoba, said that the measures were implemented through sensitisation campaigns and town hall meetings to educate residents on flood mitigation best practices.
Ovuoba, who was represented by the Head of Administration in the agency, Mr Sunday Omoha, added that the public sensitisation featured raising awareness on flood risks, residents living in areas prone to flooding and near river lines should adhere advice to relocate to safer ground.
He highlighted some local government easily submerged by flood to include; Abakaliki, Izzi, Ikwo , Ebonyi and Ivo.
“The stakeholders sensitisation campaign and town hall meetings were held in late July, in collaboration with NEMA on best ways to mitigate flooding.
“It is still ongoing and we have effectively reached residents on live television programme.
“Community heads also took the campaign to the grassroots. We are working seriously towards the warning given.
“We had written to Gov Francis Nwifuru for stockpiling of relief materials, kits in readiness for the imminent flooding,” Ovuoba said.
“We have filed official reports on the spot assessment visit to communities worst hit to include; Onakpoke community in Abakaliki,” Ovuoba said.