Impacts of Flood Disaster on the Environment; A Case Study in Lagos
Chapter One
Objective of the study
The primary objectives of this research are:
- To assess the long-term social and economic impacts of flood disasters on affected Lagos state
- To examine the ecological changes in the aftermath of flood events and their implications for biodiversity and ecosystem services.
- To identify potential strategies for aligning community recovery with environmental restoration efforts.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEWED OF RELATED LITERATURE
INTRODUCTION
Disasters can result from forces of nature which may be aided by human actions. Some disasters build up slowly while others may happen suddenly and unexpectedly. Flood disasters can be classified among the quick and sudden disaster types, but are among few in this category that can be well predicted, anticipated and controlled to a great extent.
Floods, like other disasters, do not qualify to be labelled ‘disasters’ by the mere virtue of their happenstances. They do become disasters when they cause damage or adverse effects to human lives, livelihoods and/or properties. Floods are probably the widest spread among the various disaster events that occurs in most countries and causes the most deathsFloods, like other disasters, have the ability to cause widespread disturbances in communities, and alter the way of life of people in the affected areas.
The word flood originated from the old English word ‘flod’ akin to the German word ‘flut’ and the Dutch word ‘vloed’ seen as inflow and float of water. The Oxford Reference Dictionary (ORD) defines flood as an overflowing or influx of water beyond its normal confines. Floods usually happen when the volume of water within a water body, say, a river or a lake, exceeds its total carrying capacity and as a result, some of the water flow outside the normal perimeter of the water body. Floods occur in almost every part of the world with different intensities and effects. Some of the most notable floods that have occurred include the 1981, 1991 and 2002 floods along the Chiang Jiang (Yangtze) river in China, the Mozambican floods in 2000, the 1983 and 1993 floods on the Mississippi river.
In the summer of 2005, the remarkable flooding brought by Hurricane Katrina which caused more than $ 108 billion in damages, constitute the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history . Identified different types of floods namely riverine floods, localized and urban floods, normal flood (e.g. 1-year flood), medium flood (e.g. 5-year flood), severe floods, and catastrophic floods. It is indicated that floods can also be distinguished by their style of occurrence. Flash floods occur when water quickly sweeps over an area which is difficult to deal with and it is not easy to predict the amount of rain expected within the spatial area over a short period of time.
Regional floods occur when rain falls over a large area for days or weeks causing river levels to rise quickly and fall slowly usually inundating large areas and causing widespread economic losses. Flash floods are also referred to as upstream floods and regional floods, downstream floods.
There are varied effects of floods. The primary effects of flooding include physical damage to buildings and weakening of structures. There are instances of loss of human lives and livestock, and the outbreak of disease epidemics. Other effects include instant losses of entire harvest as in the Mozambique flood in 2000 and northern Ghana floods of 2007. Whilst the effects of floods have come to be highly perceived in the negative, it is also true that floods are not entirely of damaging impact on human beings. Flooding can be beneficial such as making the soil more fertile and providing nutrients. Periodic flooding was essential to the development of some of the ancient civilizations especially those along the Tigris-Euphrates rivers, the Nile river, Indus river among others.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
In this chapter, we described the research procedure for this study. A research methodology is a research process adopted or employed to systematically and scientifically present the results of a study to the research audience viz. a vis, the study beneficiaries.
RESEARCH DESIGN
Research designs are perceived to be an overall strategy adopted by the researcher whereby different components of the study are integrated in a logical manner to effectively address a research problem. In this study, the researcher employed the survey research design. This is due to the nature of the study whereby the opinion and views of people are sampled. According to Singleton & Straits, (2009), Survey research can use quantitative research strategies (e.g., using questionnaires with numerically rated items), qualitative research strategies (e.g., using open-ended questions), or both strategies (i.e., mixed methods). As it is often used to describe and explore human behaviour, surveys are therefore frequently used in social and psychological research.
POPULATION OF THE STUDY
According to Udoyen (2019), a study population is a group of elements or individuals as the case may be, who share similar characteristics. These similar features can include location, gender, age, sex or specific interest. The emphasis on study population is that it constitutes of individuals or elements that are homogeneous in description.
This study was carried to examine Impacts of flood disaster on the environment, a case study in lagos. Residents in Lagos forms the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION
This chapter presents the analysis of data derived through the questionnaire and key informant interview administered on the respondents in the study area. The analysis and interpretation were derived from the findings of the study. The data analysis depicts the simple frequency and percentage of the respondents as well as interpretation of the information gathered. A total of eighty (80) questionnaires were administered to respondents of which only seventy-seven (77) were returned and validated. This was due to irregular, incomplete and inappropriate responses to some questionnaire. For this study a total of 77 was validated for the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain Impacts of flood disaster on the environment, a case study in lagos. In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing Impacts of flood disaster on the environment, a case study in lagos
Summary
This study was on Impacts of flood disaster on the environment, a case study in lagos. Three objectives were raised which included; To assess the long-term social and economic impacts of flood disasters on affected Lagos state, to examine the ecological changes in the aftermath of flood events and their implications for biodiversity and ecosystem services and to identify potential strategies for aligning community recovery with environmental restoration efforts.. A total of 77 responses were received and validated from the enrolled participants where all respondents were drawn from residents in lagos state. Hypothesis was tested using Chi-Square statistical tool (SPSS).
Conclusion
Food disaster had significant impacts on socio-economy of community members. It signifies that loss of human life, damage to property, destruction of crops and loss of livestock resulted from flood disaster.
- Flood disaster had significant impacts on agricultural production. It implies that widespread damage to crops and loss of livestock occurred as a result of flood disaster.
- Flood disaster had significant impact on environment. The implication is that loss of habitat, dispersal of weeds, release of pollutants and lowered fish production can result from flood disaster.
Recommendation
Residents are advised to avoid indiscriminate dumping of refuse as this could result to flood disaster.
Government at all levels should embark on channelization of public drainages and construction of bridges so as to pave way for water during heavy rainfall.
References
- Ajayi, O. (July 16, 2012). Nigeria: Flood Sacks Ibadan Residents. All Africa. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
- Ajayi, O., Agboola, S. B., & Olokesusi, B. F. (2012). Hydrology for disaster management. Special publication of the Nigerian Association of Hydrological Sciences. Retrieved in December 2012 from http://www.unaab.edu.ng
- Allan, J. D., Palmer, M.A, Hart, D. D, Richter, B. D, Arthington, A. H, Rogers, K. H, Meyer, J. L & Stanford, J. A (2003). River flows and water wars: emerging science for environmental decision making. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 1(6),298- 306.(http://www.esajournals.org/doi/abs/10.1890/1540295(2003)001%5B0298%3AR FAWWE%5D2.0.CO;2 )
- Apan, A., Keogh, D. U, King, D, Thomas, M, Mushtaq, S & Baddiley, P.( 2010). The 2008 floods in Queensland: a case study of vulnerability, resilience and adaptive capacity. Report for the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility, Gold Coast. ( http://www.nccarf.edu.au/node/216 ) Associated Press,
- Dallas News (2010). Death toll hits 1,500 in Pakistan flooding. The Dallas Morning Herald. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
- Barredo, J. & DeRoo, A. (2010). Flood damage functions for EU member states – Flood risk mapping using Corine land cover datasets, Presentation on CIS Working Group F Thematic Workshop Floods and Economics Appraising, prioritising and financing flood risk management measures and instruments, Ghent, 25 – 26 OCT 2010.
- BBC News. (2012). Nigeria: Deadly flooding in Jos Plateau State. July 24, 2012. Bradshaw, C. J. (2007). Global evidence that deforestation amplifies flood risk and severity in the developing world. U.S.A.
- Broad, W.J. ( 2005). High-tech flood control. The New York Times.
- Bunn, S. E & Arthington, A. H. (2002). Basic principles and consequences of altered hydrological regimes for aquatic biodiversity, Environmental Management, 30 ( 4) : 492-507.
