FLOOD: RELOCATE TO SAFE AREAS, PLATEAU ADVISES RESIDENTS

The Plateau State Emergency Management Agency has conducted rapid assessment of flood sites in Quan’Pan, Mikang and Shendam local governments and advised residents to relocate to safer areas.
The SEMA Executive Secretary, Alhassan Barde, who led experts on the visit said on Sunday that the mission was to conduct post-disaster assessment to see how government could assist the victims.
“Government heard of the reported cases of flood in these council areas and we are here to assess the level of damage with a view to mitigating the sufferings of the people.

“Government will respond as quickly as possible when we take back our findings to it,” he said.
Mr. Barde, however, said the agency had sent out warning signals based on the Nigeria Meteorological Agency 2015 rainfall predictions. He said in spite of the warnings of impending flood many people were yet to relocate, a situation he described `as worrisome.’
“People have been advised not to build or farm on water ways or live in flood prone areas but sadly, many people are yet to heed the advice.
“Government of the day is really concerned about the well-being of the people and we are urging those who are still living in flood-prone areas to move to safer areas,” he said.
The Chairman, Shendam Local Government Council, Alex Na’antuam, thanked SEMA for the prompt response to the plight of the people.
Mr. Na’antuam said the council, immediately after the heavy rain, swung into action as its team of experts went round to assess the extent of damage.
“Although no life was lost, so much was lost; we are calling on SEMA and the National Emergency Management Agency to take our complaints to the appropriate quarters.
“Although we appreciate the scarcity of governments’ resources, we still appeal to the state and federal governments to come to the aid of the people.’’
Also speaking, Ezekiel Vuelgap, the Chairman, Mikang Local Government Council, said that all the four districts in the area were affected by the flood.
Mr. Vuelgap who commended the SEMA for prompt assessment appealed to bring succour to the people in time. He said many people are apprehensive that previous governments had conducted such assessments without corresponding assistance.
In his remarks, Andrew Yenko, Chairman, Quan’Pan Local Government Council, appealed to the state and federal governments to come to aid of the people as the situation was beyond the local government.
Floods in the past few days have destroyed houses, farmlands and washed away bridges in the affected communities.