Streets looked like rivers on Thursday night and Friday morning after non-stop torrential rain. Apia looked like a mini-Venice. We all know the reason behind the flooding.

Poorly planned drainage, waterways and litter that end up being the reason for the blockages. A few vehicles had to be pulled out from the waters that turned Fugalei into a lake and some homes were impacted.

Undoubtedly, there was torrential rain, 147 millimetres of it as the measurement from the Samoa Meteorology Office showed. Flooding was a problem in the past, it continues to be and it will be a problem if nothing is done to improve drainage.

Not only Fugalei, Saleufi, Matautu, and Taufasi had issues with floods caused by blocked drains. Alamagato, Palisi, and Vaimea were flooded. Landslides and fords that could not be crossed in other parts of the country also caused problems.

One of the impacts of climate change is that storms have become stronger and weather conditions have become more extreme. Rain systems will become stronger and cause more havoc and if we do not possess the infrastructure to deal with such a huge amount of rain, then we are looking at a recurring problem.

The force of Mother Nature is nothing to be reckoned with. Of late, we have been witnessing cold nights, strong winds and days of rain without stopping. These are all signs of extreme weather conditions. The cyclones that impact the region have also become stronger. This calls for stronger structures whether it is housing or public infrastructure.

Instead of issuing five-year policies of what the government will be doing, it is time for action. The government needs to work with city planners and architects who have helped design waterways in nations that experience massive amounts of rainfall.

The fact is that the nation does not have a waterway system for rainwater. In simple terms, there is an issue with the drainage system. In most places it is non-existent or if drains are there, then they are not properly maintained.

The flooding in Fugalei, Alamagoto and Palisi was caused by blocked drains. These drains were blocked by litter. The plastic bottles and wrappers were discarded by us on the roadside and into the drains. They will eventually make their way into the ocean.

Karma is real and it came back to bite us when nature decided to open up the heavens. Perhaps it was punishment for not looking after nature and our environment. For too many who still believe that nature is a rubbish bin, the floods on Thursday and Friday should have given them a reason to put litter in the bin and not on the side of the road and drains.

Drainage is a very important infrastructure. There needs to be proper planning and the current drainage system needs to be improved. It needs urgent action and aid money for this project cannot be waited upon.

It is also time to change fords to bridges. How many times have people become stuck because the fords are flooded and crossing them would be a disaster?

Infrastructure assets should be planned and budgeted for, designed, built, operated and maintained ‘based on inclusive design and stakeholder engagement, while also building broader community resilience, and where possible, supporting improved capacity of individuals, industry and government.’

Having resilient infrastructure benefits the nation in its entirety. Having resilient infrastructure means that generations to follow will not have to deal with flawed bridges, poor drainage and bad roads. These are necessary investments and should be made a priority.