Use of Geo-Information Tools to Investigate Flood Risk

Five years after the adoption of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015 2030, the concept of building resilience amongst communities to flooding is still a major concern in developing countries. This is evident from the ever-increasing flood events across Kenya and the inability of communities affected by floods to act appropriately prior to a flood event. Kwale County, in Kenya, the example of this study typifies this situation. Kenya Red Cross Society implemented a project whose goal was to strengthen institutional and community capacity in anticipatory flood risk management. The project employed the early warning services (EWS) model in understanding knowledge of flood risks. To investigate flood risk in Kwale County, openly available geo-information tools were used in the systematic collection of information to understand areas exposed to floods, the communities affected and the impacts they experience. These tools include; the Height Above Nearest Drainage (HAND) that identified flood-prone areas and dwellings at risk of flooding from satellite imagery analysis.