Flood: FEMA Places Staff On Alert

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By: Prudence Okonna

The FCT Emergency Management Agency, (FEMA), has placed the Search and Rescue team of the Agency on alert, following expected heavy downpour in the FCT and neighbouring States.

The Director-General of FEMA, Dr. Abbas Idriss, gave this directive Friday in Abuja, considering the weather forecast recently released by Nigeria Meteorological Agency of expected flooding occasioned by heavy rainfall .
This was contained in a statement signed by the Public Affairs Officer, Nkechi Isah and released to media in Abuja.
The statement revealed that Nigeria Meteorological Agency, (NiMET), anticipates that apart from North Central Zone, heavy rains are also expected in parts of Katsina, Kano, Bauchi, and Taraba states.

According to the Statement, Idriss has directed an update of the Agency’s flood contingency plans; appealing to residents to heed the early warning and avoid driving or wading into pool of water during the rains.

The Director General also urged FCT residents to ‘wait out’ the rains during heavy floods or use an alternative route.

The statement added, “all blocked drains must be cleared, adding that people who reside on water channels must relocate”.

The statement disclosed that the impact-based weather forecast by NiMET, predicts flash floods, riverine flooding, strong winds, soil erosion as well as thunder and lightning.

The forecast also anticipates displacements of people due to floods, outbreaks of waterborne diseases, and damages to infrastructure.

Similarly, the NiMET impact-based weather forecast also anticipates low to moderate rainfall on Sunday 22nd, 2023 in parts of the FCT and its neighbouring States.

The FEMA Boss, therefore, emphasized the need for residents to always dial the 112 emergency’s toll-free number in the event of an emergency.