NATURAL DISASTER IN ANAMBRA FROM THE VIEW OF THE PEOPLE OF ANAM

Abstract

This paper examine flooding as a natural disaster in Anam, urban landscape. It is a combination of field observation through the distribution of questionnaire to the residents of the area and library research, problems were identified such as the causes and devastating effects of flooding in Anam which necessitated the need for this study. Research objectives were stated among which is to identify the flood generating structures and the areas vulnerable to flooding. Research questions and hypotheses were formulated to guide in achieving the objectives. The study review both theoretical and related empirical literatures under headings such as the concept of flood, types of floods, effects of flood, pattern of floods among others. The study adopted the quasi-experimental research design which is a combination of both survey and field work. 170 respondents were selected using the stratified rand sampling techniques from each of the study areas; structured questionnaires were distributed to them. The descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data obtained from the respondents and field, while the questionnaires were analyzed and presented in tables using frequency and simple percentages; and the data were analyzed using the standard multiple regression technique to estimate how the parameters (i.e ponds, drainage, polythene, vegetation and house clustering) affect the rate of flooding. Some of the findings of the study revealed that the major cause of flooding in the area is rainfall and lack of sufficient drainage system, which occur mostly from July to September annually to high amount of rainfall within that period. The residents close to the drainage or blocked surfaces experience higher rate of destruction than those far away from the drainage. The paper recommend that the environment should be well taken care to avoid escalation of floods in addition to construction of dry dams for the purpose of flood control as well as flood-mapping of vulnerable areas as these will go a long way in reducing the incidence of flooding in the study area.