Villages urged to draw flood evacuation plans

SINGIDA: SINGIDA District Council Executive Director, Ms Ester Chaula has urged residents to clear blocked drainage channels and prepare early for possible heavy El Niño rains, warning of flooding, destruction of property and food shortages.

Ms Chaula made the call over the weekend during a meeting on the implementation of the Council-level Nutrition Compact for the fourth quarter of the 2025/26 financial year.

She urged residents to closely follow weather forecasts and take preventive measures before the rains intensify.

“We all know that when heavy rains fall, water needs somewhere to pass. If drainage channels are blocked, water will accumulate and cause flooding instead of flowing through its normal routes without causing damage,” she said.

Ms Chaula also urged residents living in low-lying and flood-prone areas to relocate to safer places before the rains begin.

She cautioned people against crossing flooded rivers and bridges, saying fastmoving water could cause serious accidents even when it appears shallow.

Motorists should also avoid crossing bridges when water flows above the bridge level, as the structures may have been damaged beneath the water.

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The council official further advised households to stock food, clean water and other essential supplies in advance, saying previous heavy rains had disrupted transport and pushed up food prices.

She also urged residents to keep important documents, including birth certificates and office records, in safe places protected from water damage.

Ms Chaula directed every village and locality to establish emergency evacuation plans and identify safe shelters, including schools and other public buildings, for people affected by floods.

“Every village must know where people will be taken if such a disaster occurs,” she said.

She added that early reporting of flooding would help disaster management committees respond quickly and reduce the loss of lives and property.