morganable News / Communities
Flood-prone communities in Adamawa State are turning to early preparation, hygiene education and emergency planning as families seek to reduce the risks of flooding and cholera.
Lagos —
Residents of flood-prone communities in Adamawa State are preparing for the rainy season with attention to hygiene, safe water and early response, following experiences with floods and cholera in previous years.
For families in parts of Yola South Local Government Area, heavy rainfall has often brought more than temporary disruption. Floods have destroyed homes, damaged property and affected livelihoods, while contaminated water has increased the risk of diseases such as cholera.
Abiba Usman, a resident of Yola South, remembers how previous floods affected her community. She said families became afraid whenever it rained because they feared losing their belongings and facing health problems afterwards.
For her, cholera became another major concern. Previous outbreaks left families worried about the safety of their children and the quality of water available in their communities.
Another resident, Yakubu Badamasi, also remembers the impact of cholera. He said a child in his household became sick during an outbreak last year, while other families in the community also recorded cases.
The experiences have encouraged residents to focus on prevention. Instead of waiting until flooding or disease outbreaks become severe, communities are receiving information on steps they can take before emergencies occur.
Preparedness Reaches Households
The Adamawa State Government, with support from partners including UNICEF, has strengthened preparedness and anticipatory action in communities.
The effort is focused on helping families understand the risks they face and take practical measures before a crisis develops.
Community hygiene promoters have been moving from household to household, teaching residents about handwashing, safe water, sanitation and other ways of reducing the spread of cholera.
For families, the visits provide information that can be used immediately. Parents are encouraged to keep their surroundings clean, protect drinking water and ensure children follow hygiene practices.
Usman said she now pays closer attention to hygiene at home and makes sure her four children follow the lessons provided by the community hygiene promoters.
The state also recently held a public health emergency preparedness workshop in June, with support from the United States Government. The exercise produced a preparedness document intended to help authorities anticipate emergencies and respond before they escalate.
Emergency Supplies Pre-positioned
Another part of the preparedness effort is the pre-positioning of emergency and cholera response kits in strategic locations.
With support from the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund and other partners, supplies can be deployed more quickly when communities face flooding or a disease outbreak.
This is important because delays during emergencies can make an already difficult situation worse. Families affected by flooding may need safe water, sanitation supplies and health support at short notice.
Adamawa has experienced the consequences of delayed or inadequate preparedness. UNICEF reported that severe flooding in parts of the state in 2025 displaced thousands of people and contaminated water sources, increasing the risk of cholera and other waterborne diseases.
Flood Response Also Tested
Preparedness is not limited to health and hygiene. Emergency agencies have also been testing their ability to respond when flooding occurs.
In August, the National Emergency Management Agency and the Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency carried out a flood disaster simulation exercise.
The exercise focused on early warning, evacuation, search and rescue, emergency response and coordination among agencies.
The Wider Community Challenge
Flooding remains a major challenge for many communities across Nigeria. Beyond damaging buildings and roads, floods can destroy farms, disrupt businesses and force families to leave their homes.
Health risks can also increase when floodwater contaminates drinking water sources or overwhelms sanitation facilities.
This is why residents in Adamawa are being encouraged to treat preparedness as a community responsibility.
Families can also help by keeping drainage routes clear, storing clean water safely, maintaining good hygiene and paying attention to official warnings. Community leaders can also help by sharing information quickly and encouraging residents to move away from dangerous areas when necessary.
A Different Rainy Season?
As September continues, there is cautious relief among some families because Adamawa has not declared a cholera outbreak this year like the outbreaks recorded in 2024 and 2025.
However, residents know that the risk has not disappeared.
For Usman and other residents, the greatest change is that they are no longer simply waiting for the next emergency.
Badamasi said the visits by hygiene promoters have given residents reassurance because they receive regular reminders about how to stay safe.
The effort shows how community preparedness can change the way families face recurring disasters. While preparation cannot prevent every flood or disease outbreak, it can help residents respond earlier and reduce avoidable risks.
For Adamawa communities, the message is simple: prepare before the water rises.
With cooperation among residents, community leaders, health workers and emergency agencies, families can be better positioned to protect their homes, livelihoods and health when the next heavy rainfall comes.
