Not less than 9,733 houses in Adamawa have been affected by windstorms in 2024, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), said on Saturday.

The NEMA Head of Operations in Adamawa, Mr Ladan Ayuba, disclosed this in an interview in Yola.

He said the agency had conducted an assessment of the affected Local Government Areas which include; Jada, Hong, Mayo-Belwa, Madagali and Fufore.

Ayuba also urged residents who reside in the floodfront areas to relocate to safer places or higher ground for their safety.

He said that the warning was necessitated because of NiMet’s predictions that Adamawa was among the states to experience flooding in 2024.

Ayuba added that the likely areas to be affected are Fufore, Yola-North, Yola-south, Girei, Numan, Lamurde and Gombi LGAs.

“For your safety, please avoid flood-prone areas, stay on higher ground and stop dumping refuse in waterways,” he said.

The NEMA official also advised residents to cultivate the habit of listening to radio for relevant information and follow instructions of the agency.

“You should also not drink or wash clothes with flood water to avoid a cholera outbreak.

“People should only return home when the authorities say it is safe to do so because we are experiencing flood as a result of the release of water from Lagdo Dam of Cameron Republic,” he said.

Ayuba said that sensitisation was ongoing and urged traditional leaders to complement the efforts of government by ensuring the message gets to their subjects as some have no access to the media. (Daily Trust)