The Natural Disaster I Witnessed and How I Survived It

Hello everyone,

https://unsplash.com/photos/people-walking-on-flooded-streets-during-day-CQRe_h0OWx0

This year alone, natural disasters have been happening back to back oo sometimes when I open my WhatsApp or see the news, I just shake my head Floods, earthquakes, fires, hurricanes it is scary and until you experience one yourself, you may not really understand how serious it is.

For me, the one natural disaster I have witnessed closely is flooding.

It happened around my area in Nigeria a place that used to be dry and calm.one day it rained non stop for hours at first, we thought it was just normal heavy rain, but later, the water started rising before we knew it, water entered our compound, and in no time, some people’s houses were already filled with water People started shouting, running, trying to pack important things It was a serious moment.

I didn’t see it coming at all i mean, rain is common, but we never expected it to be that bad we had no real warning if we had known earlier, maybe people would have moved their things or stayed somewhere safer I saw people’s mattresses floating, TV sets spoilt, food soaked, and some families were forced to sleep in churches and uncompleted buildings just to stay dry.

I remember I was just looking around and thinking, So flood can happen here too? t made me realize that nature doesn’t warn before it strikes how I managed to cope during the disaster wasn’t easy i had to stay with a friend for two days because my place was almost not safe to sleep in we didn’t even have power supply, and mosquitoes were plenty but thank God no life was lost in our area that alone gave me peace of mind.

Now, when I think back, I believe there are some preventive measures that could help reduce damage if a flood like that happens again first, people need to stop dumping waste in gutters and drainages Most of the flood was caused because the water had nowhere to pass, Government too should clear canals often, especially before the rainy season.

Another important tip is elevation people should not build houses in lowland areas and for those who already stay there, it’s wise to move important things like documents, electronics, and clothes to higher places once it starts raining too much. Don’t wait until it’s too late for anyone going through something like that now, my survival tip is this.

Don’t panic, stay calm and act fast save yourself and your loved ones first property can be replaced later, but life is more important have a go bag with essentials like flashlight, water, food, charger, small cash, and important papers so you can grab it quickly if you have to leave in a hurry also, community support helps a lot during our own flood, neighbors helped neighbors that unity gave strength if you are experiencing a disaster, please don’t isolate yourself reach out for help.

In all, natural disasters remind us that life is short and unpredictable but with better awareness, planning, and care for the environment, I believe we can reduce the impact and survive whatever comes our way.