Flooding: Tips for surviving a waterlogged Lagos

Lagos, a bustling metropolis and commercial capital of Nigeria, often finds itself at the mercy of nature’s whims as it usually suffers flooding.

This past Wednesday, a heavy downpour brought the city to a standstill, with videos all over social media showing flash floods inundating parts of Lekki, Iyana-Iba, Iyana-Oworo, and other neighbouring towns.

Despite government efforts to mitigate the impact ahead of the rainy season by demolishing houses blocking drainage systems and dredging canals, residents were left grappling with the deluge.

Flooding in Lagos is not an isolated event; it’s a part of life in the city, a recurring challenge exacerbated by urbanization, poor waste management, inadequate drainage systems, and climate change.

While the rains cannot be stopped to keep the floods away, here are some practical ways to cope and stay safe in Lagos during this season:

1. Be Prepared

Carry a bag for emergency: Have a bag with essentials like food, water, medicines, flashlights, and important documents in waterproof bags. Since the rains can come at anytime, you must not be caught unawares. Protect yourself and property.

Stay Informed: Listen to local news and weather updates, and pay attention to your phone’s notifications, to know when rain and floods are expected.

2. Protect Your Home

Elevate Items: If you live in an apartment prone to flooding, move electrical appliances and important belongings to higher places in your house to protect them from water damage.

Use Sandbags: Place sandbags around doors and windows to keep water out.

3. Stay Safe

Avoid Floodwater: Don’t walk or drive through floodwater; it can be dirty and dangerous. There may be harmful organisms in the water as well as materials that could cause injuries.

Clean Up: After a flood, clean your home thoroughly to avoid mold and disease.

4. Get Around Safely

Plan Your Routes: Know the roads that are usually dry, and plan your trips around them. It is important to know the routes that can be waterlogged whenever it rains.

Use Public Transport: Avoid having your car submerged in flood. If it is raining or promises to rain, use buses or other public transport, as they might be safer.

5. Long-Term Solutions

Community Efforts: Work with neighbours to keep drains clear and report blockages to authorities. Environmental sanitation does not need to be a state-wide activity. You and your neighbours can carry out the exercise.

Insurance: Consider getting flood insurance to help cover damage costs. Nobody knows tomorrow, and nothing is impossible. Protect yourself and your property!

Happy rainy season to Lagosians.