• The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency has identified 17 Nigerian states as high flood-risk areas
• Most flood protection like clearing drainage, raising appliances, and sealing entry points can make a big difference
• Preparing before the next downpour is cheaper than replacing furniture, electronics, and important documents after a flood

The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, (NIHSA) has released their 2026 Annual Flood Outlook, and 17 states have been tagged as high-risk. The exact list of the 17 states named by NIHSA in the 2026 AFO.

If your state made NIHSA's latest flood-risk list, this is not the week to say, "We'll sort it out later."

Protecting your home doesn't always mean spending hundreds of thousands of naira. Some of the smartest flood-proofing tricks cost little or nothing at all.

6 hacks to prevent flooding

1. Check if you are in the "high-risk" zone

Before you start any hack, you need to know your level of exposure. NIHSA classifies states and local government areas based on rainfall pattern, river discharge levels, and dam release schedules.

If you are near a river bank, a flood plain, or low-lying area, you are among the "high alert" gang.

2. Check your drainage system

Blocked gutters and drainage channels are silent troublemakers. Leaves, nylon bags, plastic bottles, and sand build up faster than most people realise. Once rain starts, water has nowhere to go except into compounds and homes.

Spend an hour every week clearing gutters, compound drains, and the street drainage closest to your house. Better still, team up with your neighbours.

One clean drainage channel can save everyone on the street from avoidable flooding.

3. Raise what you can't afford to replace

Most flood damage happens because valuable items are sitting directly on the floor.

Move electronics, generators, important documents, power extensions, and small appliances onto shelves, tables, or raised platforms before heavy rainfall.

If possible, use waterproof plastic storage boxes for certificates, passports, birth certificates, laptops, and other valuables.

4. Seal the small openings

Floodwater doesn't always enter through the front door. Tiny cracks around doors, windows, walls, and plumbing pipes allow water to seep into the house little by little.

Use weather-resistant sealants where necessary and replace damaged door sweeps if water easily enters during rainfall.

5. Build simple flood barriers before the rain arrives

Don't wait until water is already entering your compound. Keep sandbags, filled cement bags, or temporary water barriers ready if your neighbourhood floods regularly. Even simple raised blocks placed around vulnerable entrances can help redirect water long enough to reduce damage.

Preparation is always easier than panic.

6. Have an emergency "grab-and-go" plan

Floods rarely give long warnings. Pack a waterproof emergency bag containing medications, power banks, flashlights, rechargeable lamps, bottled water, phone chargers, cash, and photocopies of important documents.

Store emergency numbers somewhere everyone in the family can find them.

If evacuation becomes necessary, you'll spend minutes leaving, not hours searching for your essentials.

Every rainy season reminds Nigerians that floods are easier to prevent than to recover from.

Whether you live in a city, a riverine community, or a fast-growing suburb, taking small steps today can protect your family, your valuables, and your peace of mind.

If your state appears on NIHSA's list of high-risk flood areas, don't wait for the next heavy rainfall to test your preparation.

Because by then, prevention will already be underwater.

Flood alert: NEMA begins nationwide preparedness campaign to tackle disasters

Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the National Emergency Management Agency had launched a nationwide campaign aimed at reducing disaster-related deaths and losses ahead of the 2026 rainy season.

The Director-General of NEMA, Zubaida Umar, said the initiative was designed to strengthen early warning systems and improve coordinated emergency response across the country.

The campaign, themed “Strengthening Disaster Risk Governance for a Resilient Nigeria,” focused on protecting lives and livelihoods, especially in flood-prone communities expected to be heavily impacted during the rainy season.