Lagosians: How prepared are we for extreme weather conditions?

 

Should we just make plans for flooding or put plans in place for emergency evacuation when the flooding situation becomes unexpected and unbearable? Today we all can see the interrelationship between climate change and extreme weather events. One of the most visible consequences of global warming is the occurrence of extreme weather events. Today, the number of extreme events such as major hurricanes, extreme downpour, heat waves etc. has doubled in recent times. The effect of Hurricane Ida on New York City region is visible for all to see. With good weather forecasts and weather monitoring systems, the high waters still affected train networks, roads were submerged and buildings collapsed.  Now imagine what could happen in a city with little or no forecasting and monitoring systems. I am wondering, how many gallons of water did Lagos receive from the rains which commenced mid- week?

Science plays a strong role in the affairs of man so also does belief. However, belief without applying science most times leads to disaster. We had a ten-hour rain and the city collapsed. Should we not have a plan in place for emergency preparation and evacuation during our expected heavy rainfall periods? Flooding can occur anywhere, whether a developed city or a developing city. However, the plans in place to manage the consequences of the flooding will determine how we get out of the event.

Flooding is not bad for nature; however, flash floods are. The distinguishing factor between a flood and a flash flood is the amount of time it takes for the flood to occur. A flash flood occurs within minutes or hours, flooding occurs more gradually. Flash floods are often more dangerous, because they occur with little warning. Their quick nature makes them much more powerful than floods and they often become raging torrents of water, sweeping away everything in their path. With the occurrence of extreme weather in other parts of the world, we should prepare for more flash floods.

 

How can we prepare for flash floods?

Every time it rains and flooding occurs, Lagosians are fast and quick to post pictures and send messages on the social media blaming Governments. The media, who is saddled with the responsibilities of informing people about events have turned experts in flood management and are starting to give unfounded information. We are in desperate times; all hands should be on deck to make our environment better.

We cannot control Mother Nature, but we can do something to minimise the risks associated with flooding. Different cities and country that are prone to the risks of flooding are developing emergency flood management plans. There are four phases of an emergency flood management plan. They are: mitigation, preparedness,response and recovery.Mitigation activities are intended to significantly reduce or even eliminate the risk of flooding before it occurs. The following includes some common mitigation activities: conduct vulnerability assessment, implement geographical information systems and implement mitigation measures such as levees, floodwalls, impoundments, improve conveyances, wetland restoration, storm water harvest and reuse.

Mitigation actions such as pre-flooding mapping can actually make information available to citizens. Pre-flooding mapping is very important for areas prone to flooding. Citizens should be able to find website and other resources to check flood risk areas and calculate average time for evacuations.  Receiving timely information about weather conditions or other emergency events can make all the difference in knowing when to take actions to be safe.

Preparedness activities are actions intended to achieve a sense of readiness for the flooding situations if they occur. Some preparedness activities include: developing a plan: having an evacuation plan in place before a flood occurs can help avoid confusion and prevent injuries and property damage. A thorough evacuation plan should include:

• Conditions that will activate the plan;
• Chain of command;
• Emergency functions and who will perform them;
• Specific evacuation procedures, including routes and exits;
• Procedures for accounting for people;
• Equipment for personnel;
• Review the plan with workers.

The response phase of emergency flood management involves providing immediate assistance immediately after flooding occurs. Every community should be equipped with basic equipment for search and rescue, evacuation from ditch and canals, evacuation of falling trees and repair of important roads and path for emergency medical services. The specific activities of this phase depend on each community’s characteristics. So, a one fix response action cannot be developed for a whole state like Lagos.

Finally, recovery action. These are sets of actions put in place to help people and communities affected by flooding to get back to normal life.These actions can include providing temporary housing, medical supplies, reconstruction, event counselling and education.International best practice advocates a risk management approach to the hazard of flooding. Thus, for us to mitigate against the impacts of flooding, we should seriously consider a future flood risk assessment of every flood prone community in Lagos.