The Central Regional Head of Training and Disaster Control Department of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), Enock Kojo Forson has underscored the need for people to brace themselves for heavy rains predicted by the Ghana Meteorological Agency.
He mentions that floods affected over 1,600 people in the previous year but a projected increase in number is expected this year.
“… a reflection on last year’s flooding shows that it was very massive because we experienced thirteen different floods and it affected over 1,600 people with over two million and thirty thousand expenses due to floods”, he revealed.
Speaking to ATL FM NEWS, Mr. Forson maintained that as the rainy season approaches, it is ideal for Ghanaians to prepare ahead of time to prevent surprises.
In addition, Mr. Enock Kojo Forson called on all to be responsible for their lives further emphasizing that the government has inadequate funds and resources at its disposal for flood victims.
“… government is already short of resources on relief items such as rice, beans and sugar. Hence, everyone should be responsible for their lives and brace themselves for the upcoming flood”, he said.
On measures to mediate flooding situations, Enock Kojo Forson suggested the relocation option to safeguard lives and properties.
He said individuals living in flood-prone areas need to relocate to safer areas, while properties are elevated to higher floors.
Meanwhile, Mr. Forson stressed the importance of being careful with electrical gadgets in homes and shops.
“I plead with you to put off all gadgets before leaving for work because electrocution can take place during the upcoming rainy season, also elevate your properties from the ground floors”, he added.
Mr. Forson expressed that concretization of homes and areas around homes lead to run-offs which also lead to flooding situations.
According to him the best means to stop these run-offs is through the practice of green grass planting and leaving bare grounds to allow the rainwater to sink.
“Some elite communities concretize and tile their homes and this increases run-offs which in turn also increases the volume of water that passes through gutters. In the past, green grass was used at various homes which is advisable, but every home wants to concretize or tile which is bad. Now homes which didn’t suffer from floods in the past do so due to these practices”, he revealed.
He called on various assemblies to activate their disaster preparedness plans through desilting gutters, dredging flood-prone areas, and mobilizing Zoom Lion to help clean gutters and dirty areas.
He especially called on the assemblies to help NADMO ahead of time to identify weak structures that tend to break down.
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Source: Comfort Sweety Hayford/ATLFMNEWS
