The Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet) has advised the public to pay heed to the notices from the agency concerning rainfall across the country or in specific regions.
According to the acting Director-General of GMet, Dr. Eric Asuman, whenever the public disregards any notice from the agency, it results in severe flash flooding due to inadequate preparation.
Flash floods are sudden local floods of large volumes and short duration occurring within six hours or less of heavy or excessive rainfall.
“Members of the public need to be more cautious now because the rains will be intense and we can only save ourselves when we have information; and that is why we need to take the forecasts from GMet, monitor it closely, and take the necessary precautions.
“About a week or two ago, GMet gave a warning about rainfall and possible flooding, but it took a little bit of time before it hit Accra; and this was because the speed slowed down at a point.
“But people thought it was not going to happen, but it came around 4 p.m. and caused a lot of trouble to people. We should respect these warnings and take the necessary precautions to protect ourselves,” he stressed in an interview with the media at the opening session of a regional workshop on Urban Flash Flood Forecasting System (UFFFS) organised for the six countries within the Volta Basin in Accra.
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Dr Asuman again noted that the public should brace themselves for heavier rainfall as the major rainy season peaks between June and July this year.
The agency said the rains are likely to be moderate or severe and will come with strong winds that are likely to bring destruction, ripping off roofing sheets and possibly taking down tree branches.
The workshop on Urban Flash Flood Forecasting System (UFFFS) brought together flood control experts from meteorological agencies in the six Volta Basin countries: Ghana, Togo, Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Cote d’Ivoire.
Story By Grace Tsotsoo Quaye