The public has been cautioned to take extra measures to remain safe during the current rainy season.
This is because floods, heavy objects being blown about by strong winds, lightening, slippery roads and poor visibility while driving among others, were risks that typically accompany rainfall.
According to a senior meteorologist, Michael Padi, one key thing that would help ensure safety from flooding was for everyone to be well aware of their terrain.
Mr. Padi said the best thing to do when there was heavy rain, was to as much as possible avoid any movement.
The senior meteorologist said some places were naturally flood prone because they were low lying places and people who experienced flooding because of their terrain, should therefore move to higher ground when there were heavy rains, in order to avoid the ill effects of flooding.
Mr. Padi said taking shelter or parking in the wrong places could be risky and added, that a number of cars for example, were submerged in last Sunday’s rains, because they had been parked in places that were prone to flooding.
The senior meteorologist said some grounds that were formerly covered by soil were now paved with cement, which prevented rain water from sinking and in effect, increased surface running water during rains.
He said certain gutters and drains thus needed to be reconstructed into larger ones, in order to reduce flooding in some areas. Mr. Padi cautioned that pointed elevated structures should be avoided when taking shelter during rains, because lightening was attracted to such structures, be they natural like palm trees or man-made.
Public cautioned to take extra measures ahead of the coming rainy season
