Hello my great friends. Trust we are all doing great It is with great pleasure that I am participating in the engagement contest of steem4betterlife with the topic Natural Disaster In my place.

When we talk about natural disaster, what do we mean?

This refers to a natural event occurance such as flooding, earthquake, hurricanes that happens which normally leads to very serious damage of peoples property and means of livelihood, sometimes loss of peoples lives. So we see information about such disasters in the news, social media and sometimes within our own abode.

In my country Nigeria, several places or localities are prone to natural disasters of various sort.

Her citizens that live in the coastal regions like Lagos, Benue and Niger state are in dangerous areas. Others too that live close to the desert and uplands also suffer from other forms of natural disaster.

In fact about 85 percent of the various states in Nigeria are prone to natural disasters.

There are various ways it causes ruin. In the case of flooding, farmers crops and food plants are washed away. This also causes serious gully erosions in the locality. Buildings of the local residents are destroyed. When an oil spill occurs, the rivers becomes like the dead sea, no organism grows there again. Their source of livelihood is lost.

In the case of a bush fire. Plants and food crops are consumedby the fire. The ecosystem that brings about polination of the plants are destroyed. Buildings are burnt down.

When they happen, businesses are lost, lives are lost, the locality's economic situation is affected, they may be taken 20 years, before they can come back to the situation before the natural disaster.occured. Sometimes, the entire community is lost and totally abandoned.

The inhabitants means of livelihood are lost, their businesses damaged, buildings and homes destroyed, lives are lost in so many instances.
Families are disintegrated and emotionally shattered.
Communities are lost in the process and so many others. There are so many adverse effects of natural disaster in my locality.

Flooding is caused by the overflow of river banks, especially those who live along coastal regions. The ocean overflow as a result of strong tidal waves or earthquake at the ocean floor. This leads to displacement of huge quantity of water.

This flooding also causes landslides and erosions within the area.

Drought is another major disaster in my country. This leads to loss and lack of crops to replant in the next farming season, death of domestic animals (goat, sheep, pig, fowls,cow) which is also their alternative source of livelihood.

Bush fire is another natural disaster that occurs as a result of dry season.

Global warming and destruction of the Earths green house due to excessive carbon emissions is another reason.

Sometimes, there used to be a warning alert from the body in charge of such in the government, like the meteorological department and NEMA. Sometimes, it happens unexpectedly and the people are caught unawares. The major floodings that took place in some parts of my country received prior alerts before it happened.

If I live in a natural disaster prone area, I will need to be alert always. Checking out the department responsible for warning citizens of impending disasters.

I will also limit the level of investment that I will do in that place so that ,I can easily and immediately leave the place if a warning is issued. Most people find it difficult to leave when they think of their investments and not their life.

I will always be prepared ahead of time by having an emergency bag pack where items like

° bottled water

° battery torch light

° a blanket

° some canned food(replaced always to avoid expiry)

° 3 times change of clothes, etc

I will locate the closest safe area within in case disaster strikes and tell my family to run to that place once they see it coming.

In a situation it happens without notice, they should run to the safe house first and save their lives.

These are some of the things I will do if I live in a disaster prone area or it is happening already.

However, the best thing to do if possible is to relocate from from place.

Conclusion

This contest is a timely reminder of the need to always prepare for emergencies, knowing what to do when it strikes.

I invite @benson6, @ngoenyi and @adylinah to join in this contest.