Nigerian Scientist develop debris-based warning system for natural disasters in the U.S

Nigerian geoscientist and technical communicator, Jude Enete, is leading a pioneering research project in the United States aimed at improving disaster response using an unconventional tool debris.

Enete, a Ph.D. student in Rhetorics, Communication, and Information Design at Clemson University, is developing what he calls Debris-Based Communication (DBC), an innovative warning system that uses naturally mobile materials like colored sediments to signal imminent geohazards such as hurricanes and tornadoes.

“This isn’t just about science,” said Enete. “It’s about helping people understand danger instinctively, immediately, even when phones and the internet fail.”

Originally from Nigeria, Enete’s academic journey began at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where his early work in the Anambra Basin contributed to the growing interest in Nigeria’s hydrocarbon potential.

That research helped lay the groundwork for the Petroleum Technology Development Fund’s 2024 announcement of over 30 trillion cubic feet of hydrocarbons in the region.

He later earned master’s degrees in Geology and Geophysics, and in Technical Communication at the Missouri University of Science and Technology. While there, he was deeply involved in STEM outreach and public engagement, bringing science closer to communities.

Now at Clemson, Enete’s work goes beyond theory. His system relies on wind or water-borne colored sediments as visual indicators of danger.

These sediment signals can serve as low-tech, highly visible warnings during communication blackouts, offering a critical lifeline in high-risk regions.

“The goal is to reduce panic and confusion during disasters. Current systems can be overwhelming or unclear. We’re trying to design a system that even a child or someone without formal education can understand instantly, “Enete explained.

Working out of Clemson’s Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, Enete is conducting sediment analysis and user-response simulations.

His research also holds promise for global application, particularly in underserved communities with limited access to traditional early-warning systems.

Enete hopes the technology will one day integrate into broader emergency response frameworks, with support from agencies such as the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

“This work is about communication, justice, and preparedness,” said Enete. “We’re building a bridge between science and the people it’s meant to protect.”

With one eye on the lab and the other on policy, Jude Enete is shaping a future where disaster warnings come not just from sirens or smartphones but from the earth itself.