Heavy rains are coming, and floods can cause a lot of damage to our homes, businesses, and lives. Recently, the government and flood experts (like the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, or NIHSA) warned us to get ready.
To help you and your neighbors stay safe, we have broken down their advice into simple, practical steps. If we work together and follow these tips, we can protect our families and save lives.
People living close to rivers, streams, and big water channels People living in low-lying areas (areas where land is flat or sits like a bowl, making water gather quickly).
People living in houses that have flooded in past years.
How to plan your move Find a safe place early Talk to family members or friends who live on higher ground. Ask if you can stay with them if the heavy rains start.
Pack an emergency bag Keep your important things in one small bag that is easy to carry. This bag should have your identity cards, house papers, birth certificates, some money, basic clothes, and your daily medicines.
Protect your important documents Put your papers inside waterproof plastic bags or zip lock bags so water cannot ruin them.
Remember the elderly, pregnant women, small children, and people with disabilities. They cannot run fast, so they need our help to move first.
Water must flow freely to prevent flooding. When our gutters and drains are blocked, rain has nowhere to go. The water will overflow and run straight into our streets and houses. What you and your community can do Stop dumping trash in gutters Throwing plastic bottles, bags, and household waste into gutters is the main reason why drains get blocked. Use proper waste bins.
Organize community clean up days Get your neighbors together on a weekend to clear out the sand, leaves, and trash from the gutters in your street.
Fix broken drains If a part of your street’s drainage is broken or blocked by fallen concrete, work with your community leaders to get it fixed before the heavy rains begin.
Keep the waterways open Do not build structures, shops, or kiosks over drainage channels. This blocks the water and makes it very hard to clean the gutters when they get full.
Many people lose their lives during floods because they try to walk or drive through flowing water. It only takes a small amount of moving water to sweep away a grown adult or a heavy car.
Rules for road safety during a flood Turn around, do not drown If you see water covering the road, do not try to cross it. Turn back and look for another route, or wait in a safe, dry place until the water goes down.
Do not walk through moving water Even if the water looks shallow (only up to your ankles), the force of the water can easily push you off your feet.
Watch out for hidden dangers is usually dirty. You cannot see what is underneath. There could be deep potholes, sharp glass, open manholes, or even dangerous animals like snakes hiding in the water.
Do not drive through floods A car can easily stall or get swept away in just 12 inches (about 30 centimeters) of moving water. Once water gets into your car’s engine, the car will stop working, and you could get trapped inside.
Knowledge is power. Knowing when the rain will be heaviest helps you make smart decisions before it is too late. NIHSA is the government agency that watches the water levels of rivers and tells us when a flood is coming
To keep communities safe, government emergency agencies (like NEMA and SEMA) must take action immediately. They should not wait for the flood to happen before they start preparing.
they must pack food, clean drinking water, mats, blankets, and medical supplies in safe warehouses close to areas that are likely to flood. This way, if a flood happens, they can give help to the victims immediately.
They need to prepare safe places, like schools or community halls on high ground, where people who have lost their homes can sleep and get food. Floods contaminate local water wells. Emergency teams must provide clean drinking water and temporary toilets to stop the spread of sicknesses like cholera.
