Risks Perception and Indigenous Flood Management Practices

Abstract

The study examined the effectiveness of indigenous coping strategies in flood prediction, management and control in selected communities in Anambra State Nigeria. Three communities namely Umuleri, Umunze Anam that are susceptible to flooding were selected for study. The study adopted the survey research design. A Sample size of 400 adult members of households was randomly selected for the study. The questionnaire and an interview schedule were used to elicit information from household heads and key community leaders. Respondents for interviews were purposively selected while respondents for questionnaire survey were randomly selected from adult household members. Table summaries and percentages, were used in the analysis, while the chi square test was used to test the postulated hypotheses. Findings show that respondents are aware of the risk of floods in the area. Indigenous floods prediction strategies used by the community include changes in colour of the rivers, terrestrial animal behavior especially their change of abode, and duration of rains. The use of these indigenous methods shows that there is a lacuna between professional messages from government meteorological and emergency management agencies and the local people.   To contain the effects of  floods self-help indigenous coping strategies adopted by the communities include construction of floodways/local drainages, raising the plinths of houses/shops, early planting and harvesting of crops, planting flood resistant crops, placement of sand bags around houses/shops, manual and water bailing system. These measures help to reduce the damages caused by flooding. Based on these findings it is concluded that recent flooding have surpassed the strength of indigenous strategies both in the prediction and management of flooding, thus the need for more scientific and holistic approach to flood hazard prediction and management.