Lagos – A meteorologist, Prof. Temi Ologunorisa, on Monday warned residents of coastal areas of the country to be prepared for severe rainstorms during this year’s rainy season.

Ologunorisa said in Lagos that the rainstorms would wreak havoc on poorly roofed and dilapidating buildings in such communities.

“Communities in coastal areas should expect severe rainstorms between the onset and peak periods of this year’s rainfall.

“During the transition periods, there would be rainfall of short durations accompanied with heavy storms that will blow off roofs and destroy trees,’’ he said.

Ologunorisa, the Director of Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Studies, Osun State University, Osogbo, said that the severity of the rainstorms was connected with climate change.

“Houses and structures built 50 and 60 years ago would be worst hit by the rainstorms.

“So many people would be rendered homeless and means of livelihood destroyed in the process.

“Government and other relevant agencies should begin to think of coming up with adaptation strategies ahead of the effect of these rainstorms,’’ he advised.

Ologunorisa urged the three tiers of the government to urgently embark on sensitisation campaign in communities on the dangers of living in old buildings.

He also urged the governments to come up with building codes in states and communities and implement such policies effectively.(NAN)