Flood: Kaduna maps affected areas, prepares temporary shelters

The Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency has identified several communities across the state at risk of flooding and designated temporary shelters as part of measures to prevent loss of lives and property during the ongoing rainy season.

The agency also said it had prepositioned relief and non-food items in its warehouses and zonal offices across the state to ensure rapid response whenever evacuation becomes necessary.

The Public Relations Officer of KADSEMA, Philips Dominic, disclosed this in an interview with our correspondents on Thursday, saying the agency had mapped communities located close to major rivers and tributaries, as well as low-lying areas with poor drainage systems.

Dominic listed Rafin Guza, Bashama, Unguwan Rimi, Barnawa, Kabala Costain and Romi among communities considered highly vulnerable because of their proximity to riverine areas and tributaries.

He also identified parts of Tudun Wada, Barnawa, Rigasa and Sabon Tasha as vulnerable communities because of their low-lying locations and obstructed or uncleared drainage channels.

“High-risk communities have been identified based on proximity to major riverine areas and tributaries, including Rafin Guza, Bashama, Unguwan Rimi, Barnawa, Kabala Costain and Romi, among others,” Dominic said.

He added, “Additional vulnerable communities located in low-lying areas with obstructed or uncleared drainage systems have also been mapped, including parts of Tudun Wada, Barnawa, Rigasa and Sabon Tasha.”

The KADSEMA spokesman said the agency had also stepped up its early warning system by issuing daily advisories based on weather and hydrological forecasts from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency.

“The issuance of daily advisories is a standard component of our early warning system. These advisories are informed by weekly forecasts from NiMet and NIHSA,” he stated.

According to Dominic, recent forecasts of persistent rainfall with the potential to trigger flooding prompted the agency to immediately issue evacuation advisories to communities considered vulnerable.

He cited the evacuation of residents of Askolaye as an example of the agency’s anticipatory measures, saying residents were initially reluctant to leave their homes.

“For instance, residents of Askolaye community were advised to evacuate as a precautionary measure. While initial compliance was low, timely community engagement led to full evacuation upon realisation of the imminent risk,” he said.

Dominic said the preparedness measures were being implemented in partnership with all 23 local government areas of the state, including those not classified as high-risk.

He explained that Local Emergency Management Committees had identified and designated safe havens and temporary shelters where residents could be evacuated in the event of flooding.

According to him, the Namadi Sambo Skills Acquisition Centre in Tudun Wada had been designated as a temporary shelter in Kaduna South Local Government Area, while the Romi Primary and Secondary School would serve as an interim shelter for residents of the community.

• NANS urges Kaduna youths to protect infrastructure projects
• 2027: Kaduna non-indigenes rally support for Tinubu, Uba Sani
• Kaduna frees 27 inmates

“Additional sites have been identified in Unguwan Rimi, Rafin Guza and other locations. The list is exhaustive,” Dominic said.

He explained that alternative safe locations had also been identified in areas where schools were unavailable or not within easy reach of vulnerable residents.

“Emergency shelter tents have been provided and will be mounted upon activation of pre-emptive measures,” he added.

The agency said its flood response was being coordinated under the Kaduna State Contingency Plan, which assigns responsibilities to relevant government agencies and humanitarian sectors.

Dominic said the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene sector was being led by the Kaduna State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, while security was being co-led by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Kaduna Vigilance Service.

He added that the state Ministry of Health was leading the health response, while other critical humanitarian sectors had also been incorporated into the contingency plan.

On relief materials, Dominic said KADSEMA had prepositioned essential items in its warehouses and zonal offices across the state.

“All resources are strategically positioned at zonal and LGA levels under the custody of the LEMCs across the 23 LGAs,” he said.

He stressed that the agency would not wait for a disaster to occur before deploying the materials, explaining that the activation of designated shelters would trigger immediate deployment.

“Deployment of these resources will be triggered immediately upon activation of the designated safe havens.

“The activation and deployment protocol can be executed within minutes as the situation warrants.

“All necessary arrangements are in place, and the state remains on high alert,” Dominic said.