Flood Risk Management and Disaster Preparedness in Coastal Communities of Bayelsa State, South South Nigeria

This research examines flood risk management policies and the level of disaster preparedness in coastal communities of Bayelsa State, South South Nigeria. Bayelsa State, located almost entirely within the Niger Delta floodplain, experiences annual flooding that destroys homes, farms, and critical infrastructure, rendering thousands of residents temporarily homeless. Drawing on disaster risk reduction frameworks including the Sendai Framework and recent climate adaptation literature from 2019 to 2024, the study employs a descriptive survey design. A sample of 245 coastal community residents, Bayelsa State Emergency Management Agency officials, non-governmental organisation responders, and local government disaster coordination officers is selected using stratified sampling from four coastal communities. Questionnaires, observational checklists, and key informant interviews are the primary data collection instruments. Descriptive statistics and content analysis are applied. The study anticipates finding that communities lack adequate early warning systems, that emergency evacuation plans are rarely tested or publicised, and that post-flood recovery support from government is insufficient and poorly coordinated. Climate change is also expected to be identified as an escalating driver of flood intensity and frequency. Recommendations will focus on constructing tidal embankments, establishing community early warning networks, pre-positioning emergency stocks, and mainstreaming disaster risk reduction into Bayelsa State's development planning framework. Keywords: flood risk management, disaster preparedness, coastal communities, Bayelsa State, climate adaptation