Hola amigos, natural disasters usually lead to the loss of lives and properties, and also result in a low standard of living. With various natural disasters like volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, floods, and earthquakes, among all these natural disasters, the one that I have experienced firsthand was flooding. This flooding occurred in Imo State, particularly in my area.
On that day, my brother Jonathan and my uncle went out to visit some relatives, but unfortunately, it started raining heavily. We visited my auntie and also my grandmother's sister. After all of that, on our way back home, the rain got even worse. My brother, my uncle, and I were not on foot; he had a motorcycle, which we were on when coming home. As we were coming home, he got to a point where the motorcycle could not move because of the flooded area. Cars could move, and motorcycles could be carried away; we almost fell to the ground while on the motorcycle.
At this point, we had no option but to get off the motorcycle and push it home. I saw hell that day. Could you imagine going for a visit and ending up coming home experiencing a flood? That was my first experience of flooding. On our way home, we were still about 3km away. I just felt that I had never come for a visit, I was just in fear when my uncle told my brother to not get close to a particular distraction on the road because we were coming back at night 🤤, he said that we were close to a construction site and had to stay on the safe side.
Going back home was like doing things over and over again without getting anything right, it was the was visit of my life. It was during December, and we all know that during this time in Nigeria, there is usually cold weather. Out in the cold water, raining in such an environment, made my brother and me shiver. I must say that I never saw it coming because the rain never looked serious when it started, and from the beginning of the day, the sky was very clear and would make anyone think of a day without such disasters.
Once a day begins with the sun shining bright, you hardly miss the next outcome. I was furious the time I realized that vehicles and properties were all floating around the road. The most frightening part was when my uncle said that we should be careful where we put our feet.
Flooding is a natural disaster that is beyond man's control, so for the effective prevention of flooding affecting society badly, there should be an adequate warning system, i.e, there must be a reliable warning system that can easily detect rising water levels and provide an alert in time for communities to be aware. Flooring can also be tackled through the improvement of water storage facilities that can prevent water wastage and spillage this will help any conservation of water.
To prevent flooding, there must be an adequate drainage system that can help reduce runoff and alleviate pressure on waterways. This would help make the road free from flooding. In my area, the main cause of flooding erosion, as the rain falls, is that it gradually washes away the topsoil, leaving the land prone to flooding. The community members are to practice reforestation and terracing, as it helps prevent erosion at the local level. To prevent huge losses during the disaster, we are to practice flood insurance, which will enable property owners to stay on the good side and also reduce financial loss.
I was able to cope with the disaster because my uncle and brother were with me. If I had been alone that night, I would have been terrified and maybe have tried to live on the motorcycle there and run home, we were heading home exactly 9 at 00 p.m. I remember chatting with them when we were stuck on the way, and it was probably 9:45 p.m. The fact that my uncle and my brother were there with me gave me the courage that we would resume safely, and I believe that God was by our side.
Here is the advice I have for those going through flooding.
Before the flood
Before the flood happens, we are expected to monitor the weather forecast, stay informed about flood warnings, and adhere to instructions.
As the flood is said to begin, we need to make sure that we protect all our valuable documents and move they are moved to higher ground to prevent them from becoming useless.
During the flood
As the floodwaters have begun, we are expected to avoid floodwaters by not driving through them and not working through the water because it might be contaminated with harmful substances or objects that can injure us.
As the flood is taking place, we are also expected to move to higher ground or evacuation areas, which can help us stay safe.
As the floor is in progress, we are also expected to stay calm and think critically about what decision to make to avoid making the wrong decision.
Electricity can be harmful during flooding because water is generally the best conductor of electricity; we need to be conscious of electrical appliances, outlets, and downed power lines, which can cause severe damage or even death.