BY EDITOR
16th January 2014
As usual, it stressed the need for people to take “necessary precautions”, saying there could be fierce winds, massive waves and heavy rain, all of which could spell disaster.
The agency has continually issued similar alerts whenever need to do so arose, when it forecast strong winds blowing at up to 40 kilometres per hour and waves exceeding 2.0 metres high forming along the Tanzania segment of the Indian Ocean coast.
But what exactly are these “necessary precautions” the weather experts keep warning people about? And, come to think of it, how many ordinary citizens really ever heed the calls and do the needful?
Going by experience, maybe only operators of marine vessels and other seafarers, but most people hardly ever prepare themselves accordingly. But even if most lined themselves up as expected by taking the said precautions, how many would have the resources they would need to guarantee themselves safety? Yes, the weather agency regularly issues professionally collated forecasts – and not carefully sketched guesswork as commonly thought.
Another organ, in this case the Disaster Management wing of the Prime Minister’s Office or some other government ministry, thereafter takes over the responsibility of ensuring that everything is in place and the impact of any subsequent disaster is mitigated.
Some experts have argued that most Tanzanians are not well prepared to brave hazards, and this is not far from the truth. Sometimes it is all due to ignorance of the gravity of the tragedy that can strike, but it is all the same of crucial importance always to have whatever it is that can minimise harm when the worst comes to the worst.
It is noted that many people commonly ignore weather alerts, particularly those issued by TMA. The question here is whether that is indeed the case or whether it’s just that they receive the information but have no clue as to what to do next.
Could it be that many don’t understand what “necessary precautions” they are supposed to take and are therefore too helpless to exercise meaningful caution?
One reason weather forecasts are issued to the public is to mitigate the impact of inclement weather. Thus, if people notified in good time on the possibility of experiencing rough weather, loss of life and limb as well as damaged to property would be minimised.
But no matter how accurate weather alerts are, bad weather will inflict massive damage unless people are sensitised more on the need greater disaster preparedness.
The relevant authorities must feel obliged to come closer together in educating the public on what to do in the wake of weather alerts, whether issued by TMA or other agencies.
As importantly, it would be of great benefit form people to know where exactly to assemble when waiting for assistance. Last time there was a tsunami alert in Dar es Salaam, there was such heavy traffic on most roads in the city as everyone sought “safety” that no one was going anywhere!
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
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