Killer rains require greater awareness

It has become rather disturbing to see how low public consciousness is across the national territory with regards to the nefarious effects of rains.

Losses in human lives recorded in some towns such as Douala in the Littoral or Bibemi in the North much recently, as well as the two little girls, Ferbiane Kuete and Princesse Yemeli, whose bodies were found last Tuesday in the Tyo neighbourhood in Bafoussam, chief town of the West Region, after they drowned while returning home on the first day of reopening of school, September 8, 2014.

While maintaining that every rainfall is an act of God, the public should however be aware that it can cause runoffs, floods or landslides which have been known to kill human beings; young and old. And so one poses the question of knowing what citizens residing in risk-prone areas are to be doing to prevent loss of lives or accidents.

The findings of such an inquisitive approach would definitely reveal that the culture of weather forecasts is quasi-absent from the media and society. Even during the rainy season, people usually look unprepared as many could be seen running for the nearest shelter when downpours begin. Raincoats, rain boots and umbrellas are considered to be nonsense investments; after all, the rains will go away.

It is common to see a parent park his car by his kid’s school and let the latter run out, with neither umbrella nor raincoat, to the school gate, not caring of risks of being carried away by a runoff or overflowing gutter.

Gutters, which should be cleared of all debris and filth before the rainy season begins often stay blocked, causing floods. Even in households, children in risk-prone areas are not sufficiently educated on how to prevent being victims of killer rains.

Much therefore remains to be done by families and competent authorities, to build public consciousness against the effects of rains.