US-based Nigerians panic as raging floods submerge states, kill over 50
In the aftermath of the deadly hurricane Ida that swept through major cities in the United States, torrential flooding has devastated lives and property in the affected states.
Reports noted that Ida, one of the most powerful hurricanes ever to hit the US Gulf Coast, disconnecting more than 600,00 people from running water, knocked out power to over 1.3 million homes in the northeast state of Louisiana, one of the worst-hit states. Some Nigerians caught in the web of the incident are trying to get over it days after.
The remnants of Hurricane Ida moved away from the Southeastern states, and with deadly precision barrelled battered some other states such as New Jersey and New York with tornadoes, record rain and flooding, and power outages that left the areas deluged and under states of emergency.
Nigerians worry, fear
For some Nigerians in the US caught in the raving flood, the incident re-enact images of some of their flood experiences while in Nigeria.
One of them who lives in New Orleans, a city in the state of Louisiana, Collins Ikechukwu, said since he moved over to the US with his family two years ago, he had never experienced such flooding.
He said, “The amount of rainfall in the last few days and the devastating flooding it has caused reminds me of how Lekki gets flooded during the rainy season. Even though this part of the world has better drainage than what we have in Nigeria, the downpour was more than any protective system put in place could withstand.”
Ikechukwu stated that before the impact of Hurricane Ida; the state officials issued warnings to residents, advising them to brace for the impact of the hurricane, especially those in areas prone to flooding.
He said, “Immediately the warning was put out, I started making plans to evacuate my family from the state. By Friday last week, I had successfully moved with my family to the house of a friend resident in Florida.
“Thankfully, I did so on time as flights were cancelled out of New Orleans’ Louis Armstrong International Airport due to the downpour and as anyone can imagine, it contributed to long security lines on Saturday and prompting airport officials to ask that only confirmed passengers go to the airport. People in a rush to flee the state opted for car rides but they too were met with bumper-to-bumper traffic that delayed drive times by several hours. The announcement of the hurricane being upgraded to a Category 4 on Sunday morning further worsened the frenzy of residents to leave the state for safe spaces.”
He added that he had not been able to reach some of his friends and colleagues in Louisiana as many of them had been disconnected from power by the downpour and flooding.
“I hope everyone still in the affected areas is safe. Every time I see news posts of another body found, I say a short prayer hoping none of my friends are still stuck there.”
Ikechukwu further said that he feared the level of devastation he might find when he and his family head back home after the flooding subsides, saying he was happy that he and his family were safe.
“I’m grateful to God that I heeded the warning and left with my family. Even if I lose some of my property, I’m confident that as long as I am alive, I can recover them all and even more,” he said.
Another Nigerian resident in the state of New York, Yemi Adebulu, stated that on Tuesday last week, the National Weather Service issued a prediction that some states would witness heavy rainfall from what was the remnant of Hurricane Ida. He added that in the weather maps released, one of the reddest portions — indicating severe rainfall and a high probability of flooding—hovered directly over New York City.
Adebulu said, “I immediately started panicking. My fears were worsened when I saw the preparations my colleagues at work were making to brave the predicted rainfall and flooding.
“It was my first time experiencing anything like this since I moved to the US so I was a bit slow in responding to the warnings. Luckily, a colleague helped me get some of the essentials I might need while holed up at home.”
He stated that other than the power outage that affected some parts of the state, he was lucky to be unharmed and his property safe from the flood as well.
“I’ve been following the news on my phone which I have kept charged using a power bank and I am aware the death toll has been increasing in the state. This amount of rain and flooding is unprecedented in these parts as I can see that many of the residents panicked when the warning was issued.”
He added that even with the terrible weather condition and the state of the roads, rescue operations were still being carried out to evacuate residents trapped in the rubble.
Adebulu added, “This is one thing the Nigerian government can put into practice as well; victims of flooding and other natural disasters shouldn’t be abandoned to their fate. Emergency services should be put out once the need arises to avoid preventable deaths”
A Nigerian living in Maryland identified only as Collins said he was away on a business trip to Honolulu, Hawaii, when he heard the news of the devastating floods. He stated, “I had to hurriedly reach out to my family but I was told that they were in a safe place. The situation is not too bad there unlike in Louisiana. But I must say that I am afraid and still dread the damage. I moved to the US in 2018 and have never witnessed this kind of situation.’’
Also, another Nigerian, Mr Debo Ilori, who lives in Upper Dublin, Pennsylvania, said he had yet to get over the shock of the incident which he said, affected many including those who didn’t heed to warning.’ Punch
