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Disaster centre warns of flooding, rainfall
THE public has been called on to be mindful
of the effects of rainfall and flooding during the current wet season.
Acting director of the National Disaster Centre Martin Mose said in a
statement with the current rainfall forecast for the country, lowland
river communities should expect overflowing rivers.
“This is usual but could become deadly if people do not take
precautionary steps to safeguard their lives, property, surrounding
environment and economic activities.
“Affected communities should report damages through their ward
councillors to the district administrator and to the provincial disaster
committee where necessary.”
The NDC has trained-assessors at the provinces to make damage assessment
and “we will depend on the provincial disaster co-ordinators and our
colleague assessors” at the first instance to provide reports.
Mr Mose said, however, as a long-term disaster mitigation and prevention
measure, he encouraged provincial administrations to work with the
centre to develop a provincial disaster management plan, necessary for
disaster management at the provinces.
“I support calls for disaster management to become a pillar programme
much like education, health, law and order, agriculture and
infrastructure development.
“This is critical for provinces where natural disasters are a regular
occurrence, and in PNG, most provinces will admit that this is the case.
“I encourage provincial administrations with lowland river communities,
to promote widespread planting of eucalyptus and casuarina trees,
distribution and multiplication of NARI-approved crop varieties,
construction of stilt houses, building of drainage systems, installation
of basic water purification technology, and awareness raising on public
health and sanitation, flood and landslide issues through the media and
district extension programmes.
“It is better to be prepared before disaster strikes so that community
life is not disrupted entirely by unforseen disasters.”
Last week, Dr John Bailey, the principal scientist on climatic change
with the National Agriculture Research Institute in Lae, warned that PNG
was not ready for a severe El Nino.
Dr Bailey said the 1997 drought should have been a wake-up call for the
Government to be prepared for climate change.
He also predicted severe food shortage and drought, adding there would
be extreme weather patterns created by El Nino conditions.
Dr Bailey also called for the formation of a national agricultural
drought response body.
 
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