Abstract

This study was conducted on flood sensitive areas in parts of Obio-Akpor Local Government Area, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria, in order to determine the impact of flood on the residents of the area. The method of study involved field work and laboratory analysis. Field studies involved flood height measurements. Flood heights monitored and measured over a period of one week was used to determine the flood daily encroachment rates and the flood daily receding rates. Flood encroachment rates ranged from 9.47 to 19.67 cm/day in Rumuigbo, and 6.47 to 9.00 cm/day in Ozuoba. Flood recede rates ranged from 0.87 to 3.93 cm/day and 5.00 to 8.00 cm/day in Rumuigbo and Ozuoba. These results were confirmed by the high annual rainfall (2198.73 mm/hr on average) that occurs on average round the year in Rivers State. The buildings in these flood prone areas were constructed with concrete and blocks which are susceptible to cracking and failure when constantly immersed in water for prolonged time. It is therefore recommended that large sloping gutters be constructed within strategic places in the area in order to properly transport water to the nearby rivers and ensure that dumpsites around flood prone areas are evacuated to prevent contaminated water from recharging the aquifer.

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