2013 Flood: NEMA records decrease in affected persons

(NEMA Report) – The National Emergency Management Agency has revealed that the Seasonal Rainfall Prediction (SRP) issued by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) has stimulated forecast – based disaster preparedness which has helped in reducing   the numbers of lives, property and livelihoods lost to flood disaster in 2013.

The Director General of NEMA, Muhammad Sani Sidi stated this at a workshop on the application of the seasonal rainfall prediction to climate sensitive sectors, organized by NIMET at the weekend in Abuja.  

Muhammad Sani Sidi, who was represented by the Acting Director of Planning, Research and Forecasting, Alhasan Nuhu noted that in 2013, there was flood in which the agency recorded a decrease in the number of persons affected to less than one million with 38 people losing their lives and 160 people displaced. In comparison to the devastation of the 2012 flood disaster, he informed that there was a significant reduction in the number of those affected.

Speaking further, he attributed the success recorded to the sensitization campaign embarked upon by the agency based on Seasonal Rainfall Prediction and the Nigeria Hydrological Service Agency (NIHSA)’s 2013 annual flood outlook. 

“Based on the 2013 prediction, NEMA carried out some preparedness activities, comprising the convening of a meeting of all stakeholders to critically analyze the prediction. The meeting came up with the early warning message highlighting the implications and recommendations in those sectors of the society and economy that were climate sensitive,” he indicated.

He added that a national workshop was also organized to disseminate early warning messages which focused on the lessons learnt from the 2012 flood disaster in the country. 

The DG hinted that the agency in its preparedness had stockpiled relief materials in all the zonal offices and at the head office as well as acquired equipment in readiness for flood disaster and also identified vulnerable communities and safe grounds  in all vulnerable communities as temporary shelter locations. 

The NEMA Boss identified some of the challenges from seasonal rainfall prediction (SRP) to include lack of outreach to key stakeholders at the most basic levels; poor communication of forecasts, lack of trust in forecasting and low capacity to act on the forecasts. 

Earlier in a remark, the Director – General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), Anthony Anuforom said that the theme of the workshop was carefully chosen to emphasis the enormous benefits which would be derived from proper interpretation and application of SRP to planning, decision making, programmes and projects in weather sensitive sectors of the economy.

“The SRP is one of the NIMET early warning products that contain vital information for weather disaster risk reduction and mitigation, especially in those sectors that are dependent on or affected by rainfall and temperature,” he informed. He also noted that extreme weather and climate condition occurs more frequently with great intensity and often results in huge economic losses.