Environmental hazards associated with the rainy season

THE rainy season is upon us, which means heavy rains and strong winds. Over the
years the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has recorded numerous
environmental hazards and risks associated with the rainy reason. Some of the
hazards include flash floods which often result in impassable roads, loss of
infrastructure, blocked storm drains, loss of crops/livestock and in extreme cases,
human life.

The drivers of flash floods include dumping of waste at undesignated places,
irregular collection of waste by local authorities, construction along water ways and
poorly engineered buildings.

As part of control measures, the community should refrain from stream bank
cultivation which loosens soils close to water bodies and may end up choking water
bodies with silt. Silted water bodies can only hold water for short periods of time and
this affects water availability in areas where people’s livelihoods depend on water.
Community leaders should also prohibit human settlements along waterways to
avoid the unnecessary loss of live and valuable property.

Efforts should also be directed towards afforestation and reforestation activities as
trees can act as windbreaks which slows the movement of wind at crop level and
divert the force of the wind to higher altitudes. Experience has shown that open
spaces are susceptible to violent winds which may end up blowing away roof tops
and destruction of property.

The mining sector is not spared from environmental hazards and risks associated
with the rainy season. Miners who operate in low lying areas should continuously
check weather conditions and work closely with engineers for construction of storm
drains which facilitate the smooth flow of water. Those who are into gold ore
processing should construct spill contingency plans such as cut off trenches to
contain any excessive overflows from rain water.

Local Authority should upscale clearing storm drains of any debris so as to prevent
clogging, which may result in flash floods. The rainy season has been associated
with impassable roads, flooding of homes, and bridges as a result of clogged storm
drains or total absence of storms drains.

Another challenge is the allocation of stands and subsequent construction of poorly
engineered buildings along water ways. Infrastructure, valuable property and human
life have been lost as a result of such malpractices.

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