Gov’t Creates Floods Emergency Team To Assess Floods

NAIROBI, NOVEMBER 28 – The government has established a Flood Emergency team tasked with assessing the current situation of heavy rains.

According to interior PS Raymond Omollo, The National Disaster Operations Center (NDOC),was formed to centralize and coordinate all Government action.

“A Command Center for Emergency Response communication and information has since been established at Nyayo House, Nairobi,” PS Omollo stated.

Ps said the government hosted various agencies and stake holders to support it through this initiative.

He added that the interventions are being implemented.

“At the County level, Disaster response and Security Committees is activated to coordinate interventions and address disaster situation in respective area,” added PS Omollo.

Consequently, PS Omollo noted that saving lives remains the Government’s top priority.

He added stating that having every actor and stakeholder working in sync is the surest way of mitigating and responding to the emergency.

Additionally, The PS named 4 Counties which have been affected including Tana River, Garissa, Wajir and Mandera.

Nine Counties including Isiolo, Kwale, Homabay, Makueni, Tharaka Nithi, Lamu, Taita Taveta, Meru and Kisumu are also on high alert.

He also observed that as from October to date, 120 people have unfortunately died and their families duly informed.

Nine bodies were retrieved in Mombasa while 4 bodies were recovered from Lake Victoria.

He indicated 89,098 households have been displaced and being hosted.

“Through our search and rescue efforts, 2,058 people are assisted and undergoing medical check ups at the camps set up,” Omollo noted.

PS Omollo also said that the Government has similarly distributed food, water and non-food items to a number of Counties Affected.

The Government is carrying out assessments to determine the cost of damage to these roads so as to avail necessary funds for the restoration. All major dams are likewise being monitored but Kiambere dam has a meter remaining to overflow.

However, the Government is enhancing power generation to mitigate the challenge. To reduce casualties, the PS asked Citizens not to cross flooded rivers.

“Residents are also directed to lookout for potential floods as waters may appear in areas where it may not be common. We ask them also to avoid driving or walking through moving water or open fields”, PS Omollo reiterated.

However he warned people against seeking shelter under trees and near grilled windows when raining to minimize exposure to lightning strikes.

He assured that Flood Emergency Updates will continue from the Command Center every day at 3pm until the situation subsides.

Omollo stated that they have received support from humanitarians agencies and red cross.