SHIRORO DAM FLOOD DISASTER MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES AND THEIR EFFECTS ON RIPARIAN COMMUNITIES WITH A VIEW TO EVOLVING ALTERNATIVE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES

Abstract

This study examined the Shiroro dam flood disaster management strategies and their effects on riparian communities with a view to evolving alternative management strategies. To achieve this therefore, data were sourced from the gazettes, internet facilities, text books, journals, published and unpublished thesis from University library etc. with regards to flood management strategies and the effects of flood in both upstream and downstream sectors of the dam internationally and locally. Others include such as Landsat ETM+ and Landsat SRTM. The result shows that farmland/crops submerge ranked the highest from 156 (30%) of the respondents, collapse of buildings and displacement ranked second from 149 (28%) of the respondents, property destruction ranked third from 103 (20%) of the respondents, loss of lives ranked fourth from 97 (18%) of the respondents and loss of animals ranked the least from 21 (4%) of the respondents. The finding shows 30 meter buffer distance along the floodplain area and it reveals that Guni, Gussoro and Danchitagi are within the high risk zone which makes them vulnerable to flood they need to move to higher ground. The result also shows 50 meter buffer distance along the floodplain area and it reveals that all the sample points are within the high risk zone which makes them vulnerable to flood. They need to move to higher ground for safety. The study concluded that despite the impact of Shiroro dam on the riparian communities, the majority of the respondents are not ready to move inland away from the high vulnerable areas and this is due to economic and cultural advantages except for those in new Akare which is 12kilometers away from the flood plain. These communities have also been witnessing flood before the dam was constructed but now, the frequency of the flood have been increasing over time. It’s therefore recommended that community based flood preparedness and management should be a high priority in physical therapy practice management in all the affected communities such as Guni, Zumba, Gusoro, Akare, Kwata (Wushishi), Wuya Kede and Danchitagi.