Port Harcourt — The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has warned states in the Niger Delta region to be prepared for severe windstorms this year.

The Director General of NEMA, Mohammad Sani Sidi, represented by the agency's zonal coordinator in the South-South region, Emenike Umesi, gave the warning at a one day flood sensitization programme for communities in Delta State.

Sidi, while addressing the gathering of traditional rulers, chiefs and council chairmen on the rainfall pattern for 2012, warned that the rainfall pattern this year as released by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) shows that the South-South region is most likely to be characterized by a lot of windstorm.

The NEMA boss, who advised the gathering to contact government and NGO's that can be of help during emergencies, called for the setting up of local government emergency management committees in their communities.

He said while man-induced disasters can be prevented or even stopped, natural disasters cannot be stopped. In his speech, the Delta State Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr. Tony Nnwakka commended the agency for the timely warning and wisdom in using the traditional institution as the vanguard for taking the early warning to the grassroots.

He also urged the traditional rulers to see the task as a duty they owe the people.