Minister for Disaster Management Sakiasi Ditoka says they are on standby if the need arises as a result of heavy rain and possible flooding to ensure families are safe.
He highlighted this at Nasilivata House saying one household with 10 family members from Calia Settlement in Serua were evacuated to the Latter Day Saints Church in Navua yesterday.
Ditoka says the evacuation centre was activated as a precautionary measure and evacuees have now returned to their homes safely.
He says the Fiji Police Force are on standby should there be a need to evacuate members of the public from flood-prone areas and the public can reach them on 917 if they require assistance.
The Minister says teams in the Western Division are working closely with the Sigatoka Town Council and the Fiji Police to control movement in the town.
He says in view of this, they are urging communities to refrain from unnecessary travel or movement during this period of heavy rain.
Ditoka says the risks associated with flooding and the severe weather conditions are significant and it is crucial not to jeopardise lives by going outside at this time.
He is asking people to ensure the safety of children and family members by keeping them indoors and also to not cross flooded streams, rivers or bridges.
The Minister is also urging community leaders to collaborate with the government in ensuring that people remain indoors and avoid unnecessary movement and ensure that their community members follow advisories and warnings.
He says the NDRMO has been issuing advisories for the public to take necessary precautions and he urges the general public to please take heed.
Ditoka says with this heavy rain warning in place, they are anticipating disruptions to traffic flows and possible road closures.
He says they continue to urge drivers to exercise extreme caution and please avoid crossing flooded roads.
The Minister is urging people to stay tuned for road closure updates on Fiji Roads Authority Facebook page or visit the FRA emergency dashboard link which is available on their Facebook page or they can also call 5720 and plan their travels accordingly.
He says as they are aware, flooding leads to increase in leptospirosis, typhoid, dengue and diarrhea cases and therefore during this period they encourage the public to continue practicing good hygiene to avoid getting sick.
Ditoka says they are also urging households to stock up on essentials in order to prepare for the heavy rains and floods.
He says people should ensure that they provide for enough food, water supply, emergency power sources, communications, first aid kits and required medications to last their family for several days.
The Minister says services might be disrupted in event of flooding and it is critical that families are self-sufficient until services are restored.
He adds people should take responsibility for the well-being of their family members and extend care to their neighbours, particularly those in vulnerable groups within the community to make sure they are aware of the warnings and have the necessary resources to stay safe.
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