The Kenya Meteorological Department issued a warning in March 2023 that the country will experience heavy rainfall. The high temperatures experienced earlier will lead to El Nino. The World Meteorological Organisation stated that the expectation of El Nino is due to an extended La Nina period which influenced temperature and rainfall in the world.
El Nino is the climate pattern that describes the warming of the surface of the Pacific Ocean. It is the warm phase of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). La Nina is the cool phase where water surfaces in the southern hemisphere cool. One expected effect of the El Nino period will be heavy rainfall and floods in eastern Africa.
How to stay safe during floods
Flooding is the temporary overflow of water on land that is usually dry. Floods are highly risky and can lead to death by drowning. Motorists get swept away when driving through flooded roads. Sudden rainfall causes water to rise rapidly. Streams and rivers break their banks, and the overflow ends in residential areas.
Floods risk increases under the following conditions:
- Living in flood plains
- Planting crops along riverbanks leading to erosion
- Unawareness of flood hazards in areas of settlement
- Soil erosion
- Poor building materials that can’t withstand running waters
The Red Cross states that to reduce the risk of floods, you need to take the following steps:
Understand your flood risk
Learn about the floods that affect your area. In Kenya, areas prone to flooding are the Kano plains, Nyakach area, Rachuonyo, Migori, Budalangi, Kilifi, Kwale, the Tana River Basin, Garissa, Wajir, and Ijara. Floods also affect urban areas where the drainage is poor, such as Nairobi, Nakuru, Mombasa, and Kisumu.
Types of floods are flash floods, storm surges, debris flow, and dam breaks. Look up what affects the area you live in.
Pay attention to weather forecasts
The news regularly shares information about heavy rains and storms. Staying updated on flood warnings through radio, tv, or newspapers can help you avoid getting caught out in floods.
Move to higher ground
If possible, move to higher ground during the rainy season. Moving to an urban area during the rainy season, move to a higher floor.
Keep your devices off
To remain safe during floods, shut off all electrical outlets and the mains. Avoid using electrical appliances or touching any wiring. Always ensure your wiring is unexposed, but ensure the main circuit breaker is off if that is unavoidable.
Don’t move through flooded roads
Where possible, take alternate routes if your road is flooded. Even if the water looks shallow, estimating the current’s strength is impossible, and your vehicle can easily get swept away. Don’t walk through areas with runny flood water. Not only do you risk getting an infection, but you can also lose your footing, fall, and drown.
If you are in the middle of a flooded road, slow down as much as possible and reverse to avoid the water. Try to drive on the shallow banks of the water if they’re visible and if your car can safely pass. However, it’s advisable to avoid water standing above half a foot. If the water is higher than halfway past the diameter of the wheel, avoid using the road.
A car can also easily be overrun by water. If your vehicle starts sinking, wait until it’s fully submerged before trying to get out. When it’s sunk to the bottom, release your seatbelt, roll down the window, and break it. The passenger headrest can be ejected if you have nothing to break it with. Use sharp metal tips to break the window. Try to swim to land. If you can’t swim, avoid the water altogether.
Heavy rains can cause trees and electrical poles to fall. Avoid walking in water where poles have recently fallen because you can get electrocuted. It’s also important to remember not to park cars or conduct any activities on river banks during the season of heavy rains.
Don’t use floodwater
After the rains subside, the residual water can seem useful. However, floods carry tons of debris and other deadly material. Floodwater can also contain microorganisms that can lead to diseases like cholera. It’s not possible to confirm how contaminated the water is. Don’t use it to swim, cook, or do chores.
Clean out your drainage
After floods, there is an increased risk of waterborne diseases such as typhoid and cholera. Ensure you practice more thorough hygiene during this time. Clean out your drainage to ensure that used water flows away safely.
If you need evacuation, call the Red Cross toll-free phone numbers: 1199 or 0700 395 395.
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