NEMA orders emergency teams on red alert as flood threatens 15 states

The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, has activated its zonal directorates and operations offices across 15 states following a high-risk flood alert issued by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, NIHSA.

The move came as rising river levels heightened the risk of riverine flooding in Imo, Cross River, Ebonyi, Benue, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Lagos, Rivers, Edo, Kogi, Taraba, Delta, Bayelsa, Enugu and Abia states.

In a statement signed by Head, Press Unit of the Agency, Manzo Ezekiel, he said the flood advisory was released by Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) who gave the forecast.
He said the Director General of the Agency, Mrs Zubaida Umar, had activated the Agency’s Zonal Directorates and Operations Offices to be on standby following the high flood risk alert issued by NIHSA for 15 states across the country.
He said following the advisory, Umar directed NEMA offices covering the affected states to immediately activate existing preparedness mechanisms within their areas of responsibility, maintain close coordination with relevant authorities and response stakeholders, monitor developments in vulnerable locations, and remain prepared to support necessary response interventions.
She urged residents of communities located on floodplains, riverbanks, low-lying areas and other exposed locations to take the warning seriously and move to identified safe and higher ground before flood conditions become critical.

She particularly advised that adequate attention be given to vulnerable persons, including children, older persons, pregnant women and persons with disabilities, during evacuation and other precautionary measures.
Umar also called on relevant State and Local Government authorities to activate their emergency preparedness mechanisms and pre-position essential relief and response materials at safe strategic locations on higher ground to facilitate rapid intervention where necessary.
She said they should include food and non-food items, safe drinking water and water-treatment supplies, first-aid and medical supplies, as well as rescue equipment.

She stressed the importance of early action in reducing the potential impact of flooding on lives, livelihoods and critical infrastructure, hence urged communities to cooperate with emergency management authorities and comply with evacuation advisories whenever issued.