Ghana produces flood risk maps

Ghana: CARE International has produced flood risk maps for the western region of Ghana that would be useful for the government and other agencies during disaster. In a statement, CARE mentioned that the region was one of the areas affected by the floods with more than 20,000 people feeling the impact.

The maps were produced from data collected by CARE in July and November 2010, National Disaster Management Organisation’s (NADMO) historical flooding data, a digital elevation model, and satellite images showing the extent to which towns are likely to be flooded when water level in rivers rises.

CARE said, “The data collected was fed into a GIS computer programme, which provided accurate calculations and precise mapping of flood prone areas. With the support of a GIS Volunteer from Denmark (Thomas Kristian Andersen), CARE has produced a map which identifies flood prone areas and provides information on towns likely to be affected in the wake of a flood.”

"It is expected that the map would be used by government agencies such as NDMO, district assemblies and other institutions with a stake in disaster management to provide emergency response plans, warning systems and flood protection mechanisms to minimise the high level of damage as a result of flooding in Ghana."

The Senior Programme Co-ordinator for CARE Ghana's Agriculture and Natural Resources Portfolio, Godfrey Mitti, observed that flooding had affected the output of CARE's work in some communities such as Enchi in the Western Region by eroding most of the gains in development people had made.

"The Flood Risk Map will enable us take precaution when implementing a development programme and teach people how to respond during flooding.  The map for Western Region is the first step as part of plans to map out flood prone areas in the entire Ghana."

source:Geospatial world