About 200 houses including a healthcare centre, classrooms, business premises and poultry farms were ruined by a rainstorm that blew off the rooftops in the Miango District of Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Fortunately, no one had died in Monday’s torrential downpour, but three persons had been injured and are receiving treatment while several others have been rendered homeless.
A socio-cultural group in the district, the Miango Youth Development Association did report, however that said some of the affected persons have found refuge in their neighbor’s homes within the area.
The group’s spokesman, Nuhu Nga had in a statement solicited for a hasty intervention from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the state government, particularly to those that lost their valuables and prized possessions in the disaster.
Meanwhile, the Transition Implementation Committee Chairman of the Local Government Area Fidelis Adara has said that appropriate steps are being taken by the local authority so that the the state emergency management agency and NEMA will come to the aid of those affected.
What Could Have Been Done Differently?
- 1. Early Warning Systems would have prevented a lot of the destruction that happened when the rainstorm began.
- 2. Investing in reinforced roofing materials for buildings in disaster-prone areas, will have minimised the extent of damage caused by the rainstorm.
- 3.Training residents on disaster response and evacuation procedures, would have helped residents to better cope with the aftermath of the rainstorm and provide immediate assistance to those affected.
- Improving coordination between local, state, and national emergency management agencies would have ensured a more timely and effective response to the needs of the affected individuals and communities.
Bottom Line
The disaster that occurred in Plateau State shines a light on how unprepared many if not all states in the country are to rain-related disasters. There is an urgent need for the right infrastructure to be put in place, especially as flood warnings that will affect so many states have been issued.
Additionally, coordinated emergency response efforts should be prioritised to mitigate the impact of such natural disasters and support affected communities effectively.
