Development of convenient flood risk assessment method to community level: the case in the Deduru Oya basin in Sri Lanka
International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment
ISSN: 1759-5908
Article publication date: 3 February 2023
Abstract
Purpose
Floods have been identified as the most frequent and threatening disaster in Sri Lanka amidst an increasing trend of natural and man-made disasters in the world. Subject experts state that disaster risk management should be based on the results of risk assessments, but flood risk management in Sri Lanka is seemingly not based on community-level flood risk assessments. Accordingly, the purpose of this paper is to introduce a community-level flood risk assessment method to the local context of Sri Lanka.
Design/methodology/approach
The sample (n = 425) for the study was selected using the stratified random sampling method, and the Deduru Oya basin was selected as the study area. The risk assessment model introduced by Bollin et al. (2003) was used for the current study, but with some modifications. Accordingly, 16 variables were selected for the risk assessment. Descriptive data analysis methods were used in the study.
Findings
Community-level flood risk assessment method was introduced. Variable index, flood risk index and flood risk map were developed for the study area. The Grama Niladari Divisions (GNDs) were grouped into five categories from very high risk to very low risk. The GNDs named Wirakumandaluwa, Thimbilla, Deduru Oya, Bangadeniya and Elivitiya were ranked as the most flood-risk GNDs, respectively.
Originality/value
This paper produces a flood risk assessment method for the local context. Flood risk in the study area was assessed based on people’s perceptions. Accordingly, the flood risk index and flood risk map for the study area were developed based on the empirical data. GNDs were ranked based on the flood risk index.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This study was done as a part of the PhD degree program conducted at the Postgraduate Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences (PGIHS), University of Peradeniya. The continuous support given by the PGIHS during the whole process of the degree program is thankfully acknowledged. The Rajarata University of Sri Lanka (RUSL) has supported me to conduct the PhD degree program, and many others helped me in this task. All of them are acknowledged gratefully.
Citation
Wanninayake, S.B., Nianthi, R. and Dayarathne Banda, O. (2023), "Development of convenient flood risk assessment method to community level: the case in the Deduru Oya basin in Sri Lanka", International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJDRBE-07-2022-0069
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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