Gombe State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has stated that over 171 houses were destroyed in the state due to flooding and windstorms over a period of two months.

The state government noted that the impact of the disaster has left several families homeless and vulnerable.

The Executive Secretary of SEMA, Haruna Abdullahi, who disclosed this to newsmen in Gombe, emphasised the need for residents to take responsibility for the upkeep of their environment.

“We are appealing to residents and communities to take the issue of the environment seriously by clearing blocked drainage and avoiding indiscriminate dumping of waste,” he said.

“Instead, use the waste collection centres built by the state government for waste disposal”.

Abdullahi assured that SEMA is planning to provide relief materials to the victims of the flood.

He also urged parents to be vigilant and monitor their children’s movement during the rains, citing reports of children drowning during flooding.

The SEMA boss highlighted the importance of tree planting in combating desertification.

“We urge residents to stop cutting down trees and instead use the opportunity of the wet season to plant more trees in their communities.

“Trees planted around houses can help reduce the strength of the wind and its impact on those houses”, he said.