Flooding is the most common natural disaster in Nigeria. it has mainly caused loss of life, disruption of livelihood, and land damage to infrastructure in many years. I have witnessed flooding as a natural disaster, and honestly it wasn't good. l would like to share an experience about how l almost lost my life due to flood.
I was in school as usual on a normal day when the news came that they've opened the kainji dam, they normally open the dam every 10 years, so my mom called me that l should come home for my own safety but l refused telling her it's find that the flood hasn't reached my school yet. Days passed by news of people relocating because of the flood kept on coming in, l wasn't scared at all since l believe where l stay was safe so it would be so hard for the flood to enter. Until one night l was just sleeping l didn't know the flood has entered my school area with all force l was enjoying my sleep that was when l felt wetness on my bed l woke up immediately when l saw that the flood has reached my bed level everything in my room was already floating.
I became really scared and opened the door l started walking on the water when l saw an uncompleted building that the flood hasn't reached l managed to get there and stayed till day break, l didn't even pack anything because everything was already soaked l travelled home just like that and thank God l didn't die. I would say my reaction to the flood was a nonchalant attitude but later on l became really scared because l never saw it coming in that kind of manner.
There are so many ways we could prevent flood from happening like houses and workplaces should be built away from the areas that are most vulnerable to the effects of natural disasters. Infrastructure should be built with the risk of natural disaster in mind, just like when the natural disaster came l had to go home where the land is very high and it's very difficult for the flood to enter the area.
I would like to give some survival tips to those people facing flood as a natural disaster in their community, Go as high as you safely can, Prepare your roof against high winds, reinforce your windows and doors, install flood barriers to prevent water damage and lastly if you are outside go to a safe place indoors or high ground, if you cannot shelter inside get to higher ground away from trees.
Thank you for taking time to read my post, hope to see you again 