RAINY SEASON: STAY SAFE AND SUSTAINABLE

As the clouds gather and the skies pour, the rainy season arrives with its familiar duality: it restores our rivers and nourishes our fields, yet it also unmasks the weaknesses in our infrastructure, habits, and collective readiness. No longer can Ondo Town and its residents face each downpour with surprise, unpreparedness, and indifference. The floods of last year taught us how deadly and costly complacency can be.

First, every household must become its own first responder: boil or treat drinking water to guard against cholera and typhoid, use mosquito nets and repellents to prevent malaria, and change out of soaked clothes immediately to avoid respiratory infections. Drivers and pedestrians should slow down on slippery roads, wear bright or reflective gear, and steer clear of waterlogged streets. An umbrella or raincoat and waterproof footwear are essentials.

To stop flooding before it starts, community-wide action is nonnegotiable. Residents must dispose of waste responsibly, never in gutters, waterways, or along road edges. Organize regular drain-clearing days to keep waterways flowing freely. In flood-prone neighborhoods, elevating valuables and important documents above floor level can mean the difference between recovery and ruin. Planting trees and using permeable paving will further reduce runoff and soil erosion.

With more weeks of rain ahead, vigilance must become our default. The season’s benefits will count for nothing if we allow the same mistakes to repeat. Preparation matters, habits have consequences, and protecting both ourselves and our environment is an everyday responsibility. Let this be the year that awareness truly meets action.

For more updates and practical safety tips, visit www.oecsonline.com.