By Josephine Sesay

The rainy season has arrived in full force, not the occasional showers we had earlier in the year, but the heavy, persistent downpours that soak the streets, flood lowlands, and put lives and properties at risk. Every year, we face the same threats, yet somehow, we continue to repeat the same mistakes.

It’s time we had a serious conversation about responsibility , not just from the government, but from each and every one of us.

One of the easiest ways to prevent flooding is by ensuring our gutters are clean. Yet across towns and cities, you’ll find blocked drainage channels, clogged with leaves, debris, and household waste. Some people wait until the rain starts before rushing to dump refuse outside, thinking the rain will “carry it away.” But where does it carry it to? Into our streets, into other people’s homes, into blocked canals that overflow and destroy property.

In some areas, poorly constructed or neglected retaining walls have already begun to collapse. These are not just property risks , they are death traps. A single wall collapse can take lives, bury vehicles, and destroy entire livelihoods. If you live in an area with sloped terrain or unprotected embankments, now is the time to inspect them. Don’t wait until tragedy strikes.

Many of us are guilty of negligence. We see the signs of danger , blocked drains, cracks in walls, flooded streets , yet we do nothing until someone gets hurt or worse, dies. We must understand that our small actions , or inactions ,have big consequences. Something as simple as not throwing waste in the right place, or ignoring a crack in the wall, can be the beginning of disaster.

Let’s stop normalizing loss during the rainy season. Floods and collapses are not acts of God , many of them are the result of human carelessness. We cannot keep mourning lives that could have been saved if only someone had acted earlier.

We must move from a culture of reaction to one of prevention. Inspect your surroundings. Report issues to authorities. Talk to your neighbors. Stop throwing trash into the rain. It may feel like a small act, but collectively, it could save lives.

Let this rainy season not be marked by sorrow and regret. Let it be remembered as the year we finally took action , the year we valued human life enough to make small sacrifices. Because truly, prevention is not just better than cure , it is better than loss, better than grief, and better than regret.

Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Wednsday,9th July, 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)