A Drill today can save lives tomorrow!

It was a drill. But in The Gambia, where floods displace families every rainy season, it was also a rehearsal for reality.
That is why this exercise matters. For too long, disaster response in this country has been reactive — we wait for the flood, count the losses, then hold meetings. NDMA, with support from the WACA Project, is trying to flip that script. The September 5th simulation was a follow-up to the Ward Disaster Contingency Plan developed in 2024. Its purpose was simple: test the plan, find the gaps, and fix them before real lives are on the line.
Three takeaways from Latrikunda German is that -Coordination is everything: The drill brought together Red Cross, Police, Fire and Rescue, Health, and ward committees. As Interim Director Momodou B.K. Ceesay noted, the goal was to assess collaboration between ward,
regional and municipal committees. Disasters do not respect institutional boundaries. Neither should our response. The use of WhatsApp "injects" to trigger real-time action is a smart, low-cost way to mimic crisis communication.
Secondly, hotspots need constant attention: WACA is working in an area already identified as a disaster hotspot. Climate change is making our
streams rise faster and our buildings more vulnerable. Running simulations in these exact communities builds muscle memory for residents and responders alike. The massive turnout of residents shows people want to be part of the solution.
And thirdly, preparedness must be funded and repeated: One simulation is not enough. Hospitals responded quickly this time. That should be the standard every time. But it requires equipment, training, early warning systems, and community sensitization year-round, not just during project cycles.
We thus commendations from NDMA to health workers and residents are well deserved. But commendation must be followed by investment.
Latrikunda German, Bundung, and other low-lying areas need drainage, proper housing enforcement, and evacuation routes — not just plans on paper.
The Gambia is small, but our exposure to floods is big. We cannot prevent every rain. But we can prevent chaos when the rain comes.
NDMA has shown leadership by testing, not just telling. The WACA Project has shown that development money can also buy resilience.
Now the work is to institutionalize this. Make these drills quarterly.
Publish the gaps found. Budget to close them. And most importantly, make sure every ward committee knows its role before the next flood,
not during it.
Because the next time the water rises, it will not be a simulation.