Steemit Engagement Challenge S5-W2: Natural Disaster In My Place

Hello Friends

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I greet you all according to your time my dear steemit friends, I must commend that this week's contest came at the right time for me, as we are currently facing a huge natural disaster in our area. Am delighted to be sharing my views on this contest titled Natural Disaster In My Place by @steembetterlife.

Natural Disaster as we know is a sudden disastrous/catastrophic event, caused by natural environmental factors/processes on the earth, usually leading to death, injuries and loss of properties. Without wasting time, let me go straight to what I have for us today.

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About The Natural Disaster In My Area

Let me tell you how it all started in Nigeria.

Areas Affected and Damages Recorded So Far

It has been observed and revealed by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) that this is by far the worst diaster that

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31 of the 36 states in the country are currently affected, and not less than 220 Local Government Areas and 2.7 million Nigerians are internally displaced. It has also been observed that over 600 people are already dead and over 50,000 houses have been completely covered with water, as a result of this disaster within the past two weeks.

The situation report in my state (Bayelsa) has it that over 300 communities with not less than 700,000 people are currently affected. The biggest fear right now among many of the locals is that the water isn't showing any sign of subsiding.
Most cases of death recorded were as a result of canoes that capsized during migration, while some drowned overnight as a result of thier houses being submerged in water during their sleep.

How The People Are being Affected

I took out with my boat to see things for myself, as I have observed that the water isn't showing any signs of subsiding. This was just a personal tour around my area (Yenagoa) to check out how this flood has affected my people and I.

It saddens me to experience/witness such disaster in my area, as the flood has affected the financial and economic sector of the state by destroying properties, farmlands and crops.
I bet it will be very difficult for affected individual to recover from this loss even after this disaster is over.

The means of food supply have been cut short, as vehicles conveying food items from the North to the South and vice versa have been stranded on the road for weeks now due to the massive water flow on the major roads in the country. Experts have observed that the country's economy has lost over 1 trillion naira ($2300817000.00) within the past two weeks to flood.
This has increased the scarcity of fuel, whereby making fuel price move from a staggering $0.41 to an inflamimg $1.61 per litre at the time of writing this post.

To make matters worst, we have been experiencing intense and longer rainfall which has instilled fears in the minds of citizens, as they wondered if this was the end of time for us.

The Major Cause of This Flood

Prior Alerts From The Government On The Flood

Of course there were warnings across major states in the country by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) few months before the occurrence of the flood. The Cameroon authorities gave their warnings too, as they were about to open the Lagdo dam again.

What To do In Flood Situations Like The One Facing Me Now

To be sincere, the best thing to do in situations like this is to stay safe as best as you can. I never believed that this flood disaster will get to my house because It was located in the upper region of the state. A friend if mine even came to stay with us because his apartment was flooded, but unfortunately for us this time the flood got to us, and we are now packing out of the house together with my friend too.

A round down of the basic things to do in this situation includes:

• Listen to the latest news on the level of the flood, and if it has gotten close to you, look for the next available high land to go because I have seen a situation were a family drowned overnight due to neglegiance of this instruction.

• If you are opportuned to take out the furnitures and valuable items, please do, because you can't predict the level of the water, as it might cover your house entirely.

• Try to avoid working with electrical appliances while bon water, as it might lead to electric shock, and probably death.

• While walking try to avoid moving waters, as about 8 inches of water is enough to fall you, get a canoe if possible.

• Try not to drive into moving water in such situations, as this could result to a sink and drowning of you and your car.

Conclusion

This is for sure one of the biggest natural disaster that has occurred I'm the country in decades, and instead of the government to seek possible ways to complete the Dam at Adamawa, they prefer to annually alert the nation on floods. In situations like this, it always advisable to stay safe and pray for God's intervention. Pray for Bayelsa state, pray for Nigeria.
Kudos to the organizers of this contest, and am inviting @edidiongeffiong @badmus-official and @tahispadron to check out this Contest.

Note: All Images were taken by me using my Infinx Hot10 play. 13M DUAL Camera

Thanks for your time here....