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"headline": "Vulnerability of Households to Flood Disaster in Rivers State, South-South, Nigeria",
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"description": "The study concludes that amid the frequency, severity and damages from flood, vulnerability reduction strategies from indigenous knowledge continually proved un...",
"abstract": "Flood disasters are often embedded in human-induced vulnerabilities, which manifest through numerous actions that interact with the environment like building in flood-plains, abusive exploitation of resources, population rise, and urbanisation, all together have escalated the mortalities and damages resulting from flood. This study examines vulnerability of households to flood disaster in Rivers State, South-South, Nigeria. The study adopted the cross-sectional research design. The purposive sampling was used to select 12 local government areas (Port Harcourt, Obio/Akpor, Okrika, Akuku-Toru, Degema, Emohua, Bonny, Andoni, Opobo/Nkoro, Ogu/bolo, Asari-Toru, and Ahaoda-East) from the 23 that constitute Rivers State. Thereafter, 33 communities were purposively selected from these 12 selected LGAs. Both primary and secondary data were used. Data were collected through questionnaire administration. Taro Yamane formula was used to determine the sample size of 400 upon which the study questionnaire was randomly administered to household heads. Descriptive statistics such as frequency distribution, percentages and means were used to analyse the data. Findings revealed that poor drainage system, dumping of waste in drains, and heavy rainfalls were leading causes of flooding. Major impacts of flooding were destruction of farmlands and crops; destruction of homes; destruction of wildlife, and environmental pollution; while kwashiorkor, cholera, diarrhea, and typhoid were major ailments associated with flooding. Prominent factors of residents vulnerable to flooding were nearness to river/waterbodies; building houses on flood plains; poor infrastructural development, and flood frequency. The study concludes that amid the frequency, severity and damages from flood, vulnerability reduction strategies from indigenous knowledge continually proved unsustainable, thus exacerbating their vulnerability. It is recommended that authorities should halt the building of houses on flood plains and waterways; and agencies should be strengthened.",
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"text": "Ajiboye, O. J., & Orebiyi, E. O. (2022). Assessment of socio-economic effects of flooding on selected communities of Anambra West Local Government Area, Southeast Nigeria. Geo Journal 87(1), 3575-3590. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10708-021-10400-x"
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"text": "Akukwe, T. I., & Ogbodo, C. (2015). Spatial analysis of vulnerability to flooding in Port Harcourt Metropolis, Nigeria. Sage Open, 5(1), 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244015575558"
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"text": "Botzen, W. J. W., Deschenes, O, & Sanders, M. (2000). The economic impacts of natural disasters: A review of models and empirical studies. Review of Environmental Economics and Policy, 13(2), 167-188. DOI: 10.1093/reep/rez004"
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"text": "Di Baldassarre, G., Kooy, M., Kemerink, J. S., & Brandimarte, L. (2013). Towards understanding the dynamic behaviour of floodplains as human-water systems. Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 17(8), 3235-3244. https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-3235-2013"
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"text": "Gulati, M., & Scholtz, L. (2020). Urban lockdown lessons for South Africa: Nature-based solutions for a green and equitable recovery in municipalities. World Wide Fund for Nature. South Africa, Cape Town. https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/lessons_from_lockdown_greening_municipalities.pdf"
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"text": "Joab-Peterside, S. (2005). On the militarization of the Niger Delta-The genesis of ethnic militia in Rivers State, Nigeria. African Conflict Profile, 1(2), 30-51. https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:29987928"
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"text": "Jonkman, S., Maaskant, B., Boyd, E., & Levitan, M. (2009). Loss of life caused by the flooding of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina: Analysis of the relationship between flood characteristics and mortality. Risk Analysis, 29(5), 676-698. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1539-6924.2008.01190.x"
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"text": "Mmom, P. C., & Aifesehi, P. E. E. (2013). Vulnerability and resilience of Niger Delta coastal communities to flooding. IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 10(6), 27-33. DOI: 10.9790/0837-1062733"
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"text": "Ridolfi, E., Albrecht, F., & Di Baldassarre, G. (2019). Exploring the role of risk perception in influencing flood losses over time. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 65(1), 12-20. https://doi.org/10.1080/02626667.2019.1677907"
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"text": "Sampson, A. P., Weli, V. E., Nwagbara, M. O., & Eludoyin, O. S. (2021). Sensations of air temperature variability and mitigation strategies in urban environments. Journal of Human, Earth, and Future, 2(2), 100-113. DOI: 10.28991/HEF-2021-02-02-02"
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"text": "Steinführer, A., & Kuhlicke, C. (2007). Social vulnerability and the 2002 flood: Country report Germany (Mulde River). FLOODsite Report Number T11-07-08. https://www.floodsite.net/html/partner_area/project_docs/Task_11_M11.3_p44_final.pdf"
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"text": "Tibara, Y., Wahab, B., & Aremu, A. K. (2021). Flood vulnerability assessment in Kilembe, Uganda. Journal of Environmental Hazards, 5(4), 1-8. https://www.hilarispublisher.com/open-access/flood-vulnerability-assessment-in-kilembe-uganda.pdf"
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"text": "Umeuduji, J. E., & Auseubeogun, A. (1999). Relief and Drainage. In C. U. Oyegun & A. M. Adeyemo (Eds.), Port Harcourt Region. Paragraphic."
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"text": "United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) (2005). Hyogo framework for 2005-2015: Building the resilience of nations and communities to disasters. United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR). https://www.unisdr.org/files/1037_hyogoframeworkforactionenglish.pdf"
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"text": "United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) (2009). Disaster risk reduction in the United Nations. 2009 Roles, mandates and areas of work of key United Nations entities. https://www.unisdr.org/files/9866_DisasterRiskReductionintheUnitedNat.pdf"
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"text": "Uzoh N. (2022). Environmental Impact of Flooding on Rural Development in Southeastern Nigeria. Journal of Environmental Hazards, 5(8), 1-8. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/357872101"
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"@type": "CreativeWork",
"text": "Viljoen, M. F., Du Plessis, L. A., & Booysen, H. J. (2001). Extending flood damage assessment methodology to include sociological and environmental dimensions. Water SA, 27(4), 517-522. DOI:10.4314/wsa.v27i4.4965"
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"text": "Week, D. A., & Wizor, C. H. (2020). Effects of flood on food security, livelihood and socio-economic characteristics in the flood-prone areas of the core Niger Delta, Nigeria. Asian Journal of Geographical Research 3(1), 1-17. DOI: 10.9734/ajgr/2020/v3i130096"
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"text": "Wisner, B., Blaikie, P., Cannon T., & Davis, I. (2003). Natural hazards, People Vulnerability and Risk (2nd Edition). Routledge."
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"text": "World Health Organisation (WHO) (2023). Floods. https://www.who.int/health-topics/floods#tab=tab_1"
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"text": "Yamane, T. (1967). Statistics, an introductory analysis (2nd Ed.). Harper and Row."
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"text": "Ajiboye, O. J., & Orebiyi, E. O. (2022). Assessment of socio-economic effects of flooding on selected communities of Anambra West Local Government Area, Southeast Nigeria. Geo Journal 87(1), 3575-3590. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10708-021-10400-x
\r\nAkukwe, T. I., & Ogbodo, C. (2015). Spatial analysis of vulnerability to flooding in Port Harcourt Metropolis, Nigeria. Sage Open, 5(1), 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244015575558
\r\nBotzen, W. J. W., Deschenes, O, & Sanders, M. (2000). The economic impacts of natural disasters: A review of models and empirical studies. Review of Environmental Economics and Policy, 13(2), 167-188. DOI: 10.1093/reep/rez004
\r\nDi Baldassarre, G., Kooy, M., Kemerink, J. S., & Brandimarte, L. (2013). Towards understanding the dynamic behaviour of floodplains as human-water systems. Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 17(8), 3235-3244. https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-3235-2013
\r\nGulati, M., & Scholtz, L. (2020). Urban lockdown lessons for South Africa: Nature-based solutions for a green and equitable recovery in municipalities. World Wide Fund for Nature. South Africa, Cape Town. https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/lessons_from_lockdown_greening_municipalities.pdf
\r\nJoab-Peterside, S. (2005). On the militarization of the Niger Delta-The genesis of ethnic militia in Rivers State, Nigeria. African Conflict Profile, 1(2), 30-51. https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:29987928
\r\nJonkman, S., Maaskant, B., Boyd, E., & Levitan, M. (2009). Loss of life caused by the flooding of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina: Analysis of the relationship between flood characteristics and mortality. Risk Analysis, 29(5), 676-698. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1539-6924.2008.01190.x
\r\nMahmoud, S. H., & Gan, T. Y. (2018). Urbanization and climate change implications in flood risk management: Developing an efficient decision support system for flood susceptibility mapping. The Science of the total environment, 636, 152-167. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.04.282
\r\nMmom, P. C., & Aifesehi, P. E. E. (2013). Vulnerability and resilience of Niger Delta coastal communities to flooding. IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 10(6), 27-33. DOI: 10.9790/0837-1062733
\r\nMmom, P. C., & Fred-Nwagwu, F. W. (2013). Analysis of Landuse and Landcover Change around the City of Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Global Advanced Research Journal of Geography and Regional Planning, 2(5), 076-086. http://beta.garj.org/garjgrp/pdf/2013/August/Mmom%20and%20Nwagwu.pdf
\r\nNardi, F., Annis, A., Di Baldassarre, G., Vivoni, E. R., & Grimaldi, S. (2019). GFPLAIN250m, a global high-resolution dataset of Earth’s floodplains. Scientific Data 6(180309), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1038/sdata.2018.309
\r\nNwankwoala, H. O., & Warmate, T. (2014). Subsurface soil characterization of a site for infrastructural development purposes in D/Line, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. American International Journal of Contemporary Research, 4(6), 139-148. https://www.aijcrnet.com/journals/Vol_4_No_6_June_2014/16.pdf
\r\nNwanosike, S. O., Mmom, P. C., & Weli, V. E. (2021a). Impacts of flooding on residents of the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria: Deleterious and beneficial dimensions. Journal of Research in Humanities and Social Science, 9(11), 58-68. https://www.questjournals.org/jrhss/papers/vol9-issue11/Ser-3/L09115868.pdf
\r\nNwanosike, S. O., Mmom, P. C., & Weli, V. E. (2021b). Flood risk perceptions and preparedness of residents in the Niger Delta, Nigeria. International Journal of Advances in Engineering and Management (IJAEM), 3(12), 310-321. DOI: 10.35629/5252-0312310321
\r\nNwigwe, C., & Emberga, T. T. (2014). An assessment of causes and effects of flood in Nigeria. Standard Scientific Research and Essays, 2(7), 307-315. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/275409380
\r\nOjeh, V. N. (2011). Thermal comfort characteristics in Warri and environs, Delta State, Nigeria (Unpublished Master’s Thesis). Department of Geography and Regional Planning, Delta State University, Abraka).
\r\nRidolfi, E., Albrecht, F., & Di Baldassarre, G. (2019). Exploring the role of risk perception in influencing flood losses over time. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 65(1), 12-20. https://doi.org/10.1080/02626667.2019.1677907
\r\nSampson, A. P., Weli, V. E., Nwagbara, M. O., & Eludoyin, O. S. (2021). Sensations of air temperature variability and mitigation strategies in urban environments. Journal of Human, Earth, and Future, 2(2), 100-113. DOI: 10.28991/HEF-2021-02-02-02
\r\nSteinführer, A., & Kuhlicke, C. (2007). Social vulnerability and the 2002 flood: Country report Germany (Mulde River). FLOODsite Report Number T11-07-08. https://www.floodsite.net/html/partner_area/project_docs/Task_11_M11.3_p44_final.pdf
\r\nTibara, Y., Wahab, B., & Aremu, A. K. (2021). Flood vulnerability assessment in Kilembe, Uganda. Journal of Environmental Hazards, 5(4), 1-8. https://www.hilarispublisher.com/open-access/flood-vulnerability-assessment-in-kilembe-uganda.pdf
\r\nUmeuduji, J. E., & Auseubeogun, A. (1999). Relief and Drainage. In C. U. Oyegun & A. M. Adeyemo (Eds.), Port Harcourt Region. Paragraphic.
\r\nUnited Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) (2005). Hyogo framework for 2005-2015: Building the resilience of nations and communities to disasters. United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR). https://www.unisdr.org/files/1037_hyogoframeworkforactionenglish.pdf
\r\nUnited Nations International Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) (2009). Disaster risk reduction in the United Nations. 2009 Roles, mandates and areas of work of key United Nations entities. https://www.unisdr.org/files/9866_DisasterRiskReductionintheUnitedNat.pdf
\r\nUzoh N. (2022). Environmental Impact of Flooding on Rural Development in Southeastern Nigeria. Journal of Environmental Hazards, 5(8), 1-8. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/357872101
\r\nViljoen, M. F., Du Plessis, L. A., & Booysen, H. J. (2001). Extending flood damage assessment methodology to include sociological and environmental dimensions. Water SA, 27(4), 517-522. DOI:10.4314/wsa.v27i4.4965
\r\nWeek, D. A., & Wizor, C. H. (2020). Effects of flood on food security, livelihood and socio-economic characteristics in the flood-prone areas of the core Niger Delta, Nigeria. Asian Journal of Geographical Research 3(1), 1-17. DOI: 10.9734/ajgr/2020/v3i130096
\r\nWisner, B., Blaikie, P., Cannon T., & Davis, I. (2003). Natural hazards, People Vulnerability and Risk (2nd Edition). Routledge.
\r\nWorld Health Organisation (WHO) (2023). Floods. https://www.who.int/health-topics/floods#tab=tab_1
\r\nYamane, T. (1967). Statistics, an introductory analysis (2nd Ed.). Harper and Row.
"
},
"articleBody": "Flood disasters are often embedded in human-induced vulnerabilities, which manifest through numerous actions that interact with the environment like building in flood-plains, abusive exploitation of resources, population rise, and urbanisation, all together have escalated the mortalities and damages resulting from flood. This study examines vulnerability of households to flood disaster in Rivers State, South-South, Nigeria. The study adopted the cross-sectional research design. The purposive sampling was used to select 12 local government areas (Port Harcourt, Obio/Akpor, Okrika, Akuku-Toru, Degema, Emohua, Bonny, Andoni, Opobo/Nkoro, Ogu/bolo, Asari-Toru, and Ahaoda-East) from the 23 that constitute Rivers State. Thereafter, 33 communities were purposively selected from these 12 selected LGAs. Both primary and secondary data were used. Data were collected through questionnaire administration. Taro Yamane formula was used to determine the sample size of 400 upon which the study questionnaire was randomly administered to household heads. Descriptive statistics such as frequency distribution, percentages and means were used to analyse the data. Findings revealed that poor drainage system, dumping of waste in drains, and heavy rainfalls were leading causes of flooding. Major impacts of flooding were destruction of farmlands and crops; destruction of homes; destruction of wildlife, and environmental pollution; while kwashiorkor, cholera, diarrhea, and typhoid were major ailments associated with flooding. Prominent factors of residents vulnerable to flooding were nearness to river/waterbodies; building houses on flood plains; poor infrastructural development, and flood frequency. The study concludes that amid the frequency, severity and damages from flood, vulnerability reduction strategies from indigenous knowledge continually proved unsustainable, thus exacerbating their vulnerability. It is recommended that authorities should halt the building of houses on flood plains and waterways; and agencies should be strengthened.",
"dataAvailability": "Upon request"
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https://gilawjournal.com/oai-pmh