NDMA Launches Campaign on Flood Risk Management
The National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) has launched an open space campaign to deliver essential disaster risk information to vulnerable communities in the Western Urban and Rural Areas.
This effort aims to enhance community resilience by increasing awareness and providing crucial disaster risk management information.
The campaign began today with the NDMA team visiting key locations such as Lumley Park, Lumley Market, Funkai Market, Metchem Junction, and Bottom Mango. These high-density areas are particularly prone to flooding during heavy rainfall.
At Lumley Park, NDMA’s Deputy Director of Communications, Philomina I. Turay, highlighted that the open space campaign is a strategic method to engage directly with community members in their own environments. She emphasized that this approach enables the NDMA to share vital information on flood preparedness, safety measures, and emergency response strategies effectively.
Mrs. Turay urged residents to avoid building structures on waterways, dumping waste in these areas, and excavating mud from hillsides for construction, as these actions lead to slope collapses and pose significant dangers. She concluded by appealing to the community to adhere to government environmental regulations to protect lives and property.
Musa Nallo, head of the Bike Riders at Metchem, expressed gratitude to the NDMA for the initiative. He noted the importance of open space campaigns, especially during the rainy season when floods pose a significant threat to lives and property. He emphasized the critical role of the NDMA in educating the community to mitigate potential impacts.
Residents in other areas collectively urged the government to resume national cleaning exercises, stressing that such efforts would help prevent flooding. They also called on road construction companies to build wider drainage systems to handle stormwater.
Through this initiative, the NDMA aims to build resilient communities in line with its mandate, reinforcing its commitment to risk management and community engagement to protect lives, property, and livelihoods in Sierra Leone. Tomorrow, the NDMA team will continue its campaign in the East End of Freetown, covering PZ, Up Gun, Shell, Low Cost, Wellington, and concluding in Kalaba Town.
These areas, like those in the Western Urban Area, are prone to severe flooding, and the campaign seeks to equip residents with the knowledge and tools needed to protect themselves and their properties during the rainy season.
