Climatologist advises Nigerian coastal communities on flood control

AllAfrica.com via the Daily Trust (Nigeria):A climatologist, Prof. Temi Ologunorisa, on Tuesday urged coastal communities to evolve measures aimed at mitigating the effects of flooding in their communities. Ologunorisa told newsmen in Lagos that such measures would avert a recurrence of the 2012 devastating flood in coastal communities and some parts of the country.

"Any moment from now the rainy season will set in and many communities will be exposed to erosion and flood. In order to prevent a recurrence of the 2012 flood that ravaged many communities, coastal communities and those living in flood-prone areas should start preparing, to avoid emergencies.

"We must not wait till flood-related emergencies occur before acting and that is what we do in this part of the world."

Ologunorisa, who is the director of the Centre for Climate Change and Environment Research, Osun State University, Osogbo, said that there were signs of heavy rainfall this year. He advised those whose houses were built on flood plains beds to urgently begin to relocate to safer places.

The climatologist also urged those in coastal communities not to wait for the rains before clearing their drains....