Erratic Rainfall Research Articles

Maize plants can recover from fall armyworm damage under optimum crop production conditions in humid tropical agro-ecologies.

Farmers in Africa perceive the impact of fall armyworm (FAW) on maize to be significant, but field assessments have shown that yield losses are not significant enough to warrant pesticide interventions. This suggests that relationships between the crop stages, time, and duration of attack can affect the yield. Therefore, assessing the plant's recovery from damage using individual plants based on defoliation levels could guide whether and when pesticides should be applied. To study this, we selected 120 labeled maize plants corresponding to six levels of FAW defoliation, replicated 20 times, based on an initial damage rating. The rating scale ranged from 1 (no defoliation) to 5 (>75% defoliation) during four planting seasons. Plants with a rating scale of 1 were replicated and treated with a chemical insecticide to keep them undefoliated, and that served as a control. Damage severity was recorded weekly on all plants, starting from emergence until maturity, using the same damage rating scale. Results showed that damage severity varied significantly among different defoliation levels during all seasons. Higher levels of defoliation during dry seasons resulted in significant yield loss only for plants with damage levels 4 and 5, with damage severity ranging from 38.7% to 57.5%. These results indicate that FAW control is unnecessary in the rainy season. In contrast, pesticide interventions should be envisaged in seasons of erratic rainfall, with a significant defoliation threshold level of around 50%, occurring at 8 and 5wk after planting weeks after planting, respectively for the early and late dry season.

Review of Drought Stress and Seed Priming Effects on Upland Rice Yield and Longevity

Unequal plant stand and poor germination are major constraints in seeds under areas which receive erratic and low rainfall. Seed priming has emerged as a crucial strategy to enhance the biochemical, physiological, and ecological resilience of seeds and seedlings. Employing suitable priming methods at different developmental stages can significantly improve drought tolerance in plants. Research indicates that the primary factors leading to seed deterioration are the combined effects of low temperatures and moisture levels, which trigger abnormal biochemical and physiological responses. Seed priming techniques show promise due to their simplicity and adaptability in local agricultural practices. However, one of the challenges associated with primed seeds is their relatively short storage lifespan. This review aims to explore the biochemical, physiological, and molecular aspects of rice seed priming while proposing innovative techniques to extend seed longevity, improve stand establishment, and increase overall yield. Furthermore, understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying seed priming can lead to the development of more effective priming protocols. This could ultimately contribute to sustainable agricultural practices in regions vulnerable to climate variability.

Disaster risk reduction measures and farmers choices: a discrete choice experiment in Uganda

ABSTRACT Climate change induces high and erratic rainfall which triggers landslides and floods. With the increasing population and food needs, households in mountainous, densely populated areas turn fragile ecosystems into farms. This exacerbates landslide and flood risks requiring Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) measures. Tree planting and diversion channels are among the recommended measures for farmers but their adoption remains low. Current studies assessing barriers to adoption ignore farmers’ opinions regarding the kind of trees or diversion channels preferred. We apply a Discrete Choice Experiment to evaluate how information delivered through videos impacts preferences for the DRR measures. Plot-level data were collected from 319 farmers from Kasese, Bundibugyo, Bushenyi and Buhweju in Uganda – districts prone to landslides and floods. The mixed logit model reveals a general preference for risk-reducing attributes of DRR measures. Using the conditional logit model to analyze split samples reveals that information influences preferences for tree planting, while preferences for diversion channels were hardly changed. Plot characteristics did not strongly explain the differences in preferences. Our study indicates that information specific to DRR measures in extension programmes would increase the adoption of such measures.

Remote Sensing and Field Data Analysis to Evaluate the Impact of Stone Bunds on Rainfed Agriculture in West Africa

This study evaluates the effectiveness of stone bunds in enhancing soil moisture, vegetation health, and crop yields in Ghana’s semi-arid Upper East Region, an important area for agricultural productivity in West Africa. In this region, agricultural practices are heavily impacted by erratic rainfall and poor soil moisture retention, threatening food security. Despite the known benefits of traditional soil conservation practices like stone bunds, their effectiveness in this context has not been fully quantified. Field and remote sensing data were used to evaluate the influence of stone bunds on soil moisture dynamics, vegetation growth, and crop yield. Experimental plots with and without stone bunds were monitored for climate, soil water infiltration, and soil moisture and analyzed using the NDVI from Sentinel-2 satellite imagery over two growing seasons under sorghum production (2022–2023). The results indicated that stone bunds enhanced soil moisture retention and increased infiltration rates. The NDVI analysis consistently revealed higher vegetation health and growth in the plots with stone bunds, particularly during critical growth periods. The intermediate results of the conducted experiment indicated that stone bunds increased sorghum yields by over 35% compared to the control plots. The substantial agronomic benefits of stone bunds as a soil and water conservation strategy were evident, improving soil water infiltration, water retention, vegetation health, and crop yields. The findings support the broader adoption of stone bunds in semi-arid regions to enhance agricultural productivity and resilience against climate variability. Further research is recommended to explore the long-term impacts and the integration of stone bunds with other sustainable farming practices to optimize rainfed agricultural outcomes.

Suitability Assessment and Optimization of Small Dams and Reservoirs in Northern Ghana

Water shortages, exacerbated by erratic rainfall, climate change, and population growth, pose significant challenges globally, particularly in semi-arid regions like northern Ghana. Despite the construction of numerous small dams in the region that were intended to provide reliable water for domestic and irrigation purposes, critical water issues persist during dry periods. Key drivers in this failure are attributed to the lack of studies and/or the number of inadequate studies on suitable dam siting. This study focused on assessing the sites of selected small dams in northern Ghana, employing various methods such as stream order analysis and the Analytic Hierarchy Process within a Geographic Information System framework. Results showed that many existing dams are poorly sited, with over half located far from major stream networks, resulting in drying out during the dry season and failing to meet sustainable water storage standards. This study proposed new dam locations that would allow achieving a significant increase in storage capacities from 30% to 60%. These results highlight the necessity for decision-makers to adopt research-based approaches to address water shortages effectively, balancing agricultural, domestic, economic, and environmental needs. Future research should integrate climate change considerations, long-term monitoring, environmental impact assessments, and advanced decision-making techniques such as machine learning.

Assessment of land configuration techniques on in-situ soil moisture conservation and productivity of rainfed Bt. Cotton in semi-arid production systems

Rainfed agriculture is proving to be a significant contributor to cotton production. However, recent climate change characterizes a substantial threat to current rainfed agricultural production, and consequently to farmers’ livelihoods in semi-arid regions. Typical features of these areas are erratic rainfall to frequent dry spells that lead to frequent crop failure and lasting poverty. In-situ soil moisture conservation is an important climate resilience agricultural practice to enhance the productivity of crops in these regions including rainfed Bt cotton. It comprises agronomical land configuration techniques with several local modifications. The experiments were conducted in a field at Okkarai village (11o 22’ N latitude and 78o 53’ E longitudes), Thuraiyur Block, Tiruchirapallai District in the Northwestern Agro-climatic Zone of Tamil Nadu. It was undertaken during the Rabi season (North-East monsoon) of 2022 and 2023. The experiments were laid out in randomized block design (RBD) with 7 treatments with three replications. The treatments consist of different land configuration techniques viz., flat-bed, ridges and furrows, broad bed and furrows (BBF), raised bed, tied ridges, tied ridges (alternate rows) and tied broad beds (TBB). An analysis of pooled mean data of two years showed significant differences between the treatments. Among the land configuration techniques tested, tied ridges (alternate rows) registered the maximum soil moisture content during flowering and boll formation (90 DAS), boll development (120 DAS) and boll and fibre maturation (140 DAS) stages, and the increase was 34.4%, 31.8% and 15.74%, respectively over flat-bed method. Likewise, tied ridges (alternate rows) significantly enhanced the cotton growth characters viz., plant height (128.92 cm), leaf area index (4.52), dry matter production (5.19 t/ha), and yield attributes viz., number of squares (44.50/plant), number of bolls (43.73/plant), boll weight (4.76 g) and seed cotton yield (20.86 q/ha) and cost-benefit ratio (3.07). Tied ridges in alternative row served as low-cost micro catchment approach for trapping and holding water and its practice in semi-arid rainfed region has beneficial effects of reducing runoff and soil loss, increasing soil moisture and augment crop yield.

Identifying the Numerical Components Affecting Soybean (Glycine max) Yield Under Waterlogging at Reproductive Stages

ABSTRACTWaterlogging is a critical abiotic stress increasing in importance due to more intense, erratic rainfall associated with climate change. Waterlogging leads to significant yield losses in sensitive crops, such as soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.). Identifying soybean genotypes and traits associated with better waterlogging tolerance is of high interest. We assessed the response of six soybean genotypes, selected from a field screening of over 190 genotypes, to 10 days of waterlogging at the R1 (onset of flowering) and R4 (grain filling) stages. We evaluated yield and its components, as well as shoot and root dry weights (DW) at the end of the waterlogging treatments and at maturity, along with morphological traits such as plant branch number, stem diameter and plant height. By integrating all these traits, a waterlogging tolerance index (WTI) was calculated for each genotype to rank their sensitivity. The WTI showed variations among genotypes from 0.61 to 0.77, indicating genotypic variation in response to waterlogging. Greater reductions in root DW compared to shoot DW were observed immediately after waterlogging. By maturity, shoot DW of waterlogged plants was more severely reduced than root DW in all genotypes. Despite similar DW losses at R1 and R4 at physiological maturity, seed number per plant and 100‐seed weight responses differed between the treatments. Genotypes that performed well under control conditions suffered significant yield reductions of 70%–85% after waterlogging, mainly due to fewer fertile nodes and seeds per pod, with some also experiencing a notable decrease in 100‐seed weight. In contrast, other genotypes had milder responses, with less severe reductions in seed and pod traits. Identifying breeding soybean genotypes tolerant to waterlogging during reproductive stages that maintain the number of fertile nodes and pods per node without changes in seeds per pod could significantly mitigate yield losses from waterlogging.

Climatic and non-climatic factors driving the livelihood vulnerability of smallholder farmers in Ahafo Ano North District, Ghana

Smallholder farmers in Ahafo Ano North District, Ghana, face multiple climatic and non-climatic issues. This study assessed the factors contributing to the livelihood vulnerability of smallholder farmers in this district by household surveys with 200 respondents and focus group discussions (FGDs) with 10 respondents. The Mann–Kendall trend test was used to assess mean annual rainfall and temperature trends from 2002 to 2022. The relative importance index (RII) value was used to rank the climatic and non-climatic factors perceived by respondents. The socioeconomic characteristics affecting smallholder farmers’ perceptions of climatic and non-climatic factors were evaluated by the binary logistic regression model. Results showed that mean annual rainfall decreased (P>0.05) but mean annual temperature significantly increased (P<0.05) from 2002 to 2022 in the district. The key climatic factors perceived by smallholder farmers were extreme heat or increasing temperature (RII=0.498), erratic rainfall (RII=0.485), and increased windstorms (RII=0.475). The critical non-climatic factors were high cost of farm inputs (RII=0.485), high cost of healthcare (RII=0.435), and poor condition of roads to farms (RII=0.415). Smallholder farmers’ perceptions of climatic and non-climatic factors were significantly affected by their socioeconomic characteristics (P<0.05). This study concluded that these factors negatively impact the livelihoods and well-being of smallholder farmers and socioeconomic characteristics influence their perceptions of these factors. Therefore, to enhance the resilience of smallholder farmers to climate change, it is necessary to adopt a comprehensive and context-specific approach that accounts for climatic and non-climatic factors.

Climate change and food security causality in ECOWAS region: Do countries interdependence matter?

Studies abound on the causal relationship between climate change and food security; however, the ECOWAS sub-region, despite its unique climatic, agricultural, and socioeconomic characteristics, remains insufficiently explored. Utilizing data from 14 ECOWAS countries spanning 1986 to 2022, this study departs from earlier studies by incorporating the Dumitrescu–Hurlin Panel Causality test, the Pooled Mean Group (PMG), Common Correlated Effect Mean Group (CCEMG), Augmented Mean Group (AMG) and the Cross-Sectional Augmented Autoregressive Distributed Lag (CS-ARDL) technique to analyze the complex relationship between climate change and food security in the ECOWAS sub-region. Unlike the prior empirical studies, the findings reveal a robust mutual influence of climate change and food security in the ECOWAS sub-region. Furthermore, the findings reported a positive impact of climate change on food security, aided by increased cropland area and population growth. At the same time, drought incidence and erratic rainfall between July and September annually remained a severe concern in the region. However, while the conversion of forests and natural habitats into cropland in the sub-region can lead to heightened carbon emissions and reduced ecosystem services, policy recommendations advocate the need for ECOWAS sub-regional policymakers to carefully balance the benefits of food security through sustainable practices and environmental considerations to ensure long-term food security benefits.

Kinerja Kelompok Lumbung Pangan Kabupaten Ciamis

Institutional performance is defined as the ability of an institution to use its resources efficiently and produce output that is in line with its objectives and relevant to the needs of its users. The main problems often faced by food barns in Ciamis Regency include weak institutional capacity and low participation, so this research aims to determine the performance of Food Barn Groups in Ciamis Regency. The type of research used in this research is the survey method. The data collected includes primary data and secondary data. Respondents were drawn using a simple random method. The number of respondents was 57. To determine the performance of food barns, they were divided into 3 categories, namely high, medium and low, and descriptive analysis was carried out. The results of the research show that the performance of the Food Granary Group in Ciamis Regency is in the high category. The level of institutional structure, clarity of rules, knowledge and participation of members is included in the high category, while the level of achievement is included in the medium category, this shows that the achievements targeted by the food barn are not optimal. The food barn's target achievement was not optimal due to the food barn members getting harvest results (production) that were less than optimal and the same as the previous year. Production is less than optimal due to pest attacks and erratic rainfall.

Drivers of land use land cover change and livelihood coping strategies in Sheka biosphere reserve; a case of Shato forest, Southwest Ethiopia

It is evident that the means of subsistence of the community have a significant impact on the management of natural resources. This study examined the socio-economic drivers of LULCC and assessed the impacts of such changes on rural livelihoods in Shato forest, southwest Ethiopia. To map the land use and land cover, supervised classifications were used. The data were collected from 358 household heads through semi-structured questionnaires. A logistic regression model was employed to investigate the dependence of rural households on forest resources. LULC analysis results showed that about 308.29 ha of wetland and 3215.6 ha of natural forest were converted to other land use types during the last 30 years. The findings reveal that a household’s education level, household size, distance from the market, total land owned, skills and social network significantly affect their dependency on forest resources. Respondents gave high rankings to covariates such as erratic rainfall (1.70), market price (1.53), low crop output (1.28), and inadequate infrastructure (1.24). These covariates force rural communities of the study area into two major livelihood diversification strategies. These were crop and income diversification. The study comes to conclude that, the extensive and imprudent use of natural resources is a result of changes in livelihood strategies to cope up with the aforementioned shocks. Thus, the decreasing nature of forest resources results in covariate shocks in the study area and needs serious intervention mechanisms to tackle this trajectory of catastrophe.

Climate change adaptation: Challenges for agricultural sustainability.

Climate change poses a substantial threat to agricultural sustainability globally. Agriculture is a vital component of the gross domestic production of developing countries. The multifaceted impacts of climate change on agriculture, highlighting how extreme weather events such as water stress, heatwaves, erratic rainfall, storms, floods, and emerging pest infestations are disrupting agricultural productivity. The socioeconomic status of farmers is particularly vulnerable to climatic extremes with future projections indicating significant increment in ambient air temperatures and unpredictable, intense rainfall patterns. Agriculture has historically relied on the extensive use of synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, and insecticides, combined with advancements in irrigation and biotechnological approaches to boost productivity. It encompasses a range of practices designed to enhance the resilience of agricultural systems, improve productivity, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. By adopting climate-smart practices, farmers can better adapt to changing climatic conditions, thereby ensuring more sustainable and secure food production. Furthermore, it identifies key areas for future research, focusing on the development of innovative adaptation and mitigation strategies. These strategies are essential for minimizing the detrimental impacts of climate change on agriculture and for promoting the long-term sustainability of food systems. This article underscores the importance of interdisciplinary approaches and the integration of advanced technologies to address the challenges posed by climate change. By fostering a deeper understanding of these issues to inform policymakers, researchers, and practitioners about effective strategies to safeguard agricultural productivity and food security in the face of changing climate.

Evaluating constraints associated with farmers' adaptation strategies to climate change impact on farming in the tropical environment

The persistent threat of climate change poses challenges to food security, despite numerous adaptation strategies, necessitating attention to achieve sustainable livelihoods. This study conducted a survey among 220 farmers in fifteen selected rural communities from five political wards in Ondo West Local Government Area, Ondo State, Nigeria, using a multistage sampling technique. Both descriptive and inferential statistical methods were used to analyse data obtained. The results indicated that 90 % of the farmers had knowledge of consequences of climate change, while 75 % have adopted various strategies to cope with the menace. The data were factorable at p ≤ 0.05 using KMO and Bartlett's tests. Four variables were extracted out of nine analysed as significant to the explanation of constraints to CC adaptation strategies, namely: engagement in other jobs (16.499 %); farmers' experience with the varying nature of weather patterns (14.526 %); farm size variation (13.485 %); and the difficulty posed by coping with recurring erratic rainfall (11.925 %). All four variables identified and extracted explained 56.446 % of the constraints hindering farmers from coping with climate change. The study recommended further studies to identify other variables that could be accountable for the constraints in coping with the climate change scenario in the study area. The contributions of farmers' experiences to the failure of various strategies in coping with climate change form the nexus to other extracted variables and, therefore, need further investigation for sustainable agriculture globally.

Feasibility and Growth Dynamics of Mustard Farming in Uttar Pradesh and Bundelkhand Region of U.P. India

Bundelkhand is a region of central India lying in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. It is one of the least socio-economically developed regions of the country mainly due to regular incidence of drought and erratic rainfall. Mustard is one of the most important oilseed crop of rabi season for Bundelkhand region on the basis of area under the crop. With the limited resources, there has been a noticeable change in the area, production and productivity of mustard. Apart from edible oil, it also has industrial use in producing items like varnishes, soaps, paints, hydrogenated oil, perfumery, lubricants, etc. The study is an attempt to examine the pattern of growth, instability, cost and return of production of mustard crops at state (Uttar Pradesh) and regional (Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh) level. Study is based on secondary data obtained from various published sources. Compound Annual Growth Rate, coefficient of variation, Commission for Agricultural Costs &amp; Prices (CACP) cost concept and returns were used as analytical tools to assess the financial suitability and performance of the crop in both the Uttar Pradesh and Bundelkhand region. It was observed that the growth in area (2.94%) and production (4.36%) of mustard crop in Bundelkhand region was increasing at a higher rate as that of Uttar Pradesh. Higher net return was earned by the farmer growing mustard in Uttar Pradesh than the farmer of Bundelkhand region.

Climate Resilient Agriculture: Enhancing Agricultural Sustainability in the Face of Climate Change Scenario

The increasing demands of a growing population pose a serious danger to global food and nutritional security due to the detrimental impacts of climate change on crop growth and agricultural production, both in terms of quantity and quality. Climate change impacts on income, livelihoods, and population health are directly related to factors including increasing temperatures, erratic rainfall, and extreme weather events. Agronomic practices that are robust to climate change have the potential to improve the current state of matters, maintain agricultural productivity globally, especially in a sustainable way, and accomplish the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Agricultural scientists are anticipated to be crucial in this scenario in advancing the shift to climate-resilient agriculture (CRA), enhancing the conversion of conventional to sustainable food systems, and serving as liaisons between farmer practices and technological developments. In this study, we offer a road map for increased agricultural sustainability that includes the efficient application of technological advancement, policies and plan that will support the intensification of sustainable agriculture and climate resilience.

ANALISIS DAN VISUALISASI DATAPENDERITA PENYAKIT DBD DI SITUBONDO MENGGUNAKAN PLATFORM TABLEAU

Cases of dengue fever in Situbondo are very fluctuating and unpredictable. This shows that dengue fever is still a problem that requires serious health attention. The infectious disease dengue fever is caused by the bite of the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Fluctuations in dengue fever cases are due to erratic rainfall. Sometimes rainfall is higher and the rainy season is longer. On the other hand, sometimes rainfall is relatively lower and the dry season is longer. This research aims to analyze and visualize data on dengue fever sufferers in Situbondo using the Tableau platform. The data used is map data per region or spatial data that has geographical references and historical data on dengue fever patients in Situbondo from 2016 to 2022. Data was obtained from the website Tanahair.indonesia.go.id and the Situbondo Community Health Center. The research results show that data visualization using Tableau can produce good, effective, interesting and efficient information. The results of data visualization of dengue fever sufferers in Situbondo showed that there were 2 cases of death. Cases of dengue fever sufferers are spread throughout all villages in Situbondo. It is hoped that the results of this research can help in adopting appropriate policies to control dengue fever in Situbondo.

Rainfall, peak river flow and flow variability drive spatio‐temporal change in the extent of riparian woodland in an African protected area savanna

AbstractVerbal accounts, supported by limited ground‐based and satellite images, reveal decreasing riparian woodland and a loss of large trees along the rivers of the Kruger National Park (KNP, South Africa) over the last century. A multi‐decadal analysis was conducted to identify trends in extent and possible drivers of riparian woodland change. Aerial and satellite imagery (1936–2018) were used to quantify changes in the extent of riparian woodland at 18 sites on 14 rivers in KNP. These changes were compared in a multivariate time‐series with river flow and local rainfall. Particular attention was paid to cumulative flow effects, as well as the frequency and magnitude of large infrequent disturbances such as droughts and floods. Riparian tree cover fluctuated over the time period, and the trajectory of change varied between sites. Most (11) sites experienced a decrease in overall riparian tree cover over ~80 years, with these declines being significant at six sites. Peak flow and maximum rainfall events were strongly associated with these decreases, indicating that flood events are potentially the biggest driver of tree loss from the system. Indeed, the mega‐flood event of 2000 and subsequent large floods have resulted in substantial declines in riparian woodland extent in recent decades. Alternatively, flow variability and cumulative rainfall significantly influenced woodland expansion in isolated cases. With global change models predicting more erratic rainfall and an increased likelihood of large infrequent disturbances, together with increasing demands to abstract more water, the long‐term future of these dynamic habitats and their associated biota here is uncertain.

The application of seed priming agents in enhancing drought resilience of rice: a comprehensive review

Abstract Rice (Oryza sativa L.) serves as a staple food for over half of the world’s population, and its production is vital for global food security. However, the increasing demand for rice is threatened by the rising occurrence of drought stress, driven by erratic rainfall patterns attributed to unpredictable global climate. Drought stress can significantly affect rice at various growth stages, with seed germination being particularly vulnerable due to reduced water intake. Direct Seeded Rice (DSR), an alternative planting technology, offers water efficiency and cost savings but faces challenges like poor stand establishment. Seed priming, a technique that enhances seedling emergence and early growth, has proven to be a practical approach for improving rice tolerance under suboptimal conditions, including drought. The present article is intended to discuss (i) the mechanism and benefits of seed priming, (ii) seed priming techniques, potential agents, and effectiveness factors, (iii) the mechanism of seed priming to improve drought tolerance, (iv) challenges and opportunities, to promote the seed priming strategy as a future, cost-effective research tool to increase rice yield and productivity under drought stress.

Decarbonization Efforts in Africa: Successes, Opportunities, and Challenges for Promoting the use of Renewable Energy by Social Economy

Background: While Africa contributes minimally to global warming, it remains disproportionately vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change, including reduced agricultural productivity and erratic rainfall patterns. In response, African governments and policymakers have devised strategies aimed at mitigating climate change effects and promoting renewable energy adoption, decarbonization, and sustainable development pathways. Research objectives: This article aims to explore the intersection of decarbonization and the social economy sector in Africa, particularly in promoting renewable energy utilization. It seeks to examine the challenges and opportunities associated with integrating decarbonization efforts within social economy frameworks on the continent. Research design and methods: The study employs a narrative methodology coupled with content analysis to investigate the dynamics of decarbonization within the context of the social economy in Africa. It assesses the existing initiatives, policies, and challenges related to promoting renewable energy adoption and decarbonization strategies. Results: The findings indicate that while there is a growing recognition of the importance of decarbonization and renewable energy in Africa’s social economy sector, challenges such as limited access to technology, funding, and infrastructure persist. Conclusions: Addressing these obstacles is crucial for advancing decarbonization and climate change mitigation efforts across the continent.

Tweeting Through the Flood: Application of BERT Topic Modeling for a Comparative Flood Communication Analysis

Floods are prevalent disasters in the United States, posing escalating risks due to climate change-induced factors like rising sea levels and erratic rainfall patterns. Despite governmental efforts, flood risk communication remains inadequate, hindering preparedness and response capacity. While governmental agencies predominantly employ traditional, one-sided information dissemination approaches, social media platforms pose as crucial early warning indicators and sources of real-time information. This study conducts the first part of our intended comparative analysis of social media messages between governmental agencies and communities. We perform a case study on a flooding event in Michigan from May 17-20, 2020. Utilizing advanced topic modeling, we examine Twitter/X message content and sentiment from community-based posts. Insights aim to inform more effective flood communication strategies, bridging the gap between official information and community needs during events. Future work will compare social media messages' content and sentiment from governmental agencies relative to those from the community.