Flood Vulnerability Assessment in Gashua: Issues and Prospectives

Abstract

In most developing economies, destruction of lives and properties are common especially the riverine communities along the Lake Chad area of Africa where flooding are annual disaster routine. Gashua is a riverine community with gentle slope terrain and have recently witnessed rapid growth and development. This community have being witnessing torrential rainfall coupled with budding anthropogenic activities. Thus, the development of the area has being facing serious risk of flood vulnerability which were largely as a result of it location along river Yobe. This study focused on examining flood risk vulnerability in Gashua through the concurrently use of quantitative and qualitative data. The study utilizes geo-referenced data with the aid of Geographic Information System (GIS) technique for flood vulnerability analysis. The study revealed that soil type and terrain of this area contributed to poor draining of rain which subsequently leads to water overflow in the area. Moreover, this study also uncovered that poor drainage systems as well as poorly planned street layout in the build up areas has contributed to increasing magnitudes of destruction during flood events in this area. The study finally recommended that the need for immediate essential upgrade of urban renewal and immediate re-construction of the town drainage system.