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Social Rains NADMO NADMO identifies 270 flood prone areas in WR

Sekondi, May 31, GNA - The Western Regional Office of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) says it has identified 270 flood

prone areas in the region with 17 in the Sekondi-Takoradi-Shama area. Consequently, it has taken stringent measures to ensure that lives a nd property were not lost during this rainy season, Mr Japhet Baidoo, Wester n Regional Coordinator of the NADMO, has told the GNA, in an interview at Takoradi.

He said among the measures were constant clean up exercises, especia lly the de-silting of gutters and drains, and the intensification of public education for those living in the flood prone areas to take adequate precautionary. The Coordinator, however, appealed to the public to supplement the government's efforts in preventing floods by initiating clean up exercise s for their surroundings since they would be the first to become victims. Mr Baidoo said clean up exercises involved a lot of logistics and called on the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to always release materials for the exercise, while assembly members must also lead in the crusade to embark on communal labour.

This would ensure environmental cleanliness, he said, adding that th e President's Clean up Programme would remain a mirage if the people contin ued to show laxity. Mr Baidoo said in the Shama District, settlers along the coast in fl ood prone areas at Krobo, Bosomedo and others, had heeded to advice to reloca te to safer areas at Fawomanye. The Coordinator, however, noted that the persistent floods were due to the narrowness of gutters and drains and called for the monitoring of projects by experts to ensure that projects were undertaken according to their specifications to prolong their lifespan. Meanwhile, the continuous rains in the metropolis have resulted in t he uprooting of trees and food stuffs in the back yards of while parts of th e streets got flooded. 31 May 10