The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has placed the Search and rescue team of the agency on alert.
It also directed an update of the agency’s flood contingency plans
The decision became imperative following a statement by the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMET), which anticipates moderate to heavy rains in parts of Katsina, Kano, Bauchi, Plateau and Taraba states.
The impact based weather forecast by NiMET, also predicts flash floods, riverine flooding, strong winds, soil erosion as well as thunder and lightning.
It said the forecast also anticipates displacements of people due to floods, outbreak of waterborne diseases and damages to infrastructure.
The NiMET impact based weather forecast further anticipates low to moderate rainfall on Sunday 23rd, 2023 in parts of the FCT and its neighbouring States.
Against this background, the Director General of FEMA, Dr. Abbas Idriss, has appealed to residents to heed the early warning and avoid driving or wading into a pool of water during the rains.
Idris in a statement issued Saturday by Head, Public Affairs of FEMA, Nkechi Isa, urged FCT residents to wait out the rains during heavy floods or use an alternative route.
He said, “All blocked drains must be cleared adding that people who reside on water channels must relocate.”
The director-general urged the residents to always dial the 112 emergency toll free number in the event of an emergency.
