PUBLIC RELATIONS AND THE MANAGEMENT OF FLOOD IN BENUE STATE OF NIGERIA

The study, “Public Relations and the Management of Flood in Benue State of Nigeria: Assessment of the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BESEMA)”, evaluated public relations use by BESEMA in addressing the 2022 Makurdi flood, using Issues Management Theory. Employing a survey design and questionnaires, it revealed that BESEMA primarily used publicity, specifically news releases, to manage the flood. The public relations efforts employed by BESEMA effectively sensitized the public on safety, with weekly updates during the flood. This strategy helped reduce potential losses. The study concluded that use of publicity by BESEMA was effective in managing the flood. It recommended that the government should recruit more qualified personnel for BESEMA and other agencies, emphasizing the effectiveness of public relations in disaster communication.