Abstract
The paper presents the result of a vulnerability assessment of urban dwellers to a major flood hazard in Abeokuta, southwestern Nigeria in July 2007. This was achieved by means of questionnaire survey administered to 248 flood area residents. Flood vulnerability was assessed by examining exposure, susceptibility, and coping indicators in the study area. Findings of the study show that although about 50% of respondents had experienced floods, in Abeokuta or elsewhere in the past, majority (66%) did not anticipate a flood event of such magnitude to occur despite its location on a flood plain and, therefore, were unprepared for such hazard. Pre-warning of the flood event was generally lacking among flood area residents as only 8% of respondents indicated pre-warning, which was based on personal observations. Response to the flood hazard was mainly reactive for both private and public agents as flood risk reduction measures were not in place.
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Acknowledgments
The author gratefully acknowledges the insightful comments and suggestions of two anonymous reviewers of the manuscript. The assistance of Tunde Odusole, Director, State Emergency Management Agency, Abeokuta, in providing data on flood-affected people and Segun Oguntoke who coordinated the field survey is gratefully acknowledged. The research assistance of Kayode Ogunsuyi is also appreciated.
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Adelekan, I.O. Vulnerability assessment of an urban flood in Nigeria: Abeokuta flood 2007. Nat Hazards 56, 215–231 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-010-9564-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-010-9564-z