Housing Vulnerability, Resilience and Adaptation Strategies to Flood Hazard: A Study of Shiroro Town in Niger State, North Central Nigeria

Abstract

This study explores housing vulnerability and resilience to flood in Shiroro, a rural community in Niger State, North Central Nigeria. It exposes the flood challenge and coping strategies that typifies communities in river plane  and dam water ways. The research method employed is qualitative, descriptive and analytical. Among the research instruments used were questionnaires and focused group discussion to probe into the menace of flood in the community. The findings indicate that the people use mostly local technology and expertise in dealing with the challenge. Many of the coping strategies are rudimentary and require little or no skills to put in place. The study noted that because the flood challenge will not go away, a comprehensive flood risk assessment should be put in place as a first step in dealing with the problem.

Keywords: adaptation, flood, resilience, river plain, vulnerability