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NADMO develops mobile app to predict floods
In Ghana, the problems are often compounded by poor waste management practices, leading to the few drains being blocked by waste.
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The app, known as Flash Flood Forecaster uses satellite data and a new generation of flood-modelling techniques to accurately predict the area and extent of possible flooding some hours before they occur, allowing residents to take appropriate actions.
President of the Ghana Institution of Engineers (GhIE), Mrs Carlien Bou-Chedid, said the app was a good early warning system.
Delivering the 48th presidential address in Accra, she said "Urbanisation tends to increase the proportion of impervious areas and, thus the likelihood of flooding, especially when urbanisation is unplanned and there are inadequate or non-existent drainage systems.
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"In Ghana, the problems are often compounded by poor waste management practices, leading to the few drains being blocked by waste."
She said activities that led to flooding from rainfall in the country included poor land use planning and control, encroachment on waterways and flood plains, undersized drains, debris and silt in drains and buildings in waterways.
Graphiconline reports poor drainage system and a poor waste management challenge leads to residents turning drains into refuse dumps.
The app can be downloaded from Google play store.
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Accra noted for floods
According to her, Accra, which is sited on a low-lying area, experiences flooding annually mainly because of the haphazard construction of houses, especially on water courses, the poor drainage system.
The heaviest rain ever recorded in the city fell in June 1959, when a volume of 7.56 inches was registered, according to reports.
The rain nearly brought normal life in the city to a standstill, with offices and shops closed and schoolchildren.
July 5, 1995Flood havocRains which started at midnight caused flooding by morning in low areas of the Accra metropolis. The flood not only affected commuters and vehicles but also the Achimota VRA substation, resulting in power cuts.
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June 13, 1997Accra floodsHours of intermittent downpour for two days in Accra caused floods which threatened to cut communication in various parts of the city. Some roads in the metropolis were affected, making it difficult for motorists to ply them.
Major rivers such as the Odaw and Onyasia appeared on the brink of breaking their banks, forcing some residents to desert their homes for higher and safer grounds.
The water in these rivers rose steadily when the rain started about 3 p.m., raising fears of a possible flood disaster as happened on July 4, 1995 and claimed lives and property.
June 28, 2001Floods Again
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It is the worst in Accra since July 4, 1995. An early morning downpour submerged portions of the city, with many houses and structures at Madina, Achimota, Dzorwulu, Avenor, Santa Maria and Adabraka Official Town being affected. Residents of the affected areas who were trapped by the flood waters had to climb to safety on trees and rooftops until they were rescued or the flood waters subsided.
May 5, 2010
Rains caused havoc in Central Accra, Ofankor and other parts of Accra.
The country’s capital city’s vulnerability to floods manifested when parts of the city and its streets were deeply submerged in water after two hours of stormy rains.
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June 22, 2010Nation’s worst flood disaster, death toll 35
Thirty-five bodies were retrieved from flood waters across the country by volunteers and rescue workers who described the havoc after the rains as the worst flood disaster in Ghana’s recent history.
February 24, 2011Heavy rains cause havoc in Accra
A downpour wreaked extensive havoc on property in most parts of Accra and some of its surrounding communities.
The property of residents of areas such as Adabraka, Kisseman, Alajo Junction, A-Lang at Santa Maria, Oyarifa, Haatso, Adenta and the Tema Timber Market were either submerged or washed away.
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According to an official of the Meteorological Services Agency, Ms Felicity Ahasianyo, the rainfall, which began from 9.30 p.m. to almost 3 a.m., measured 71.5 mm, which she described as quite heavy.
November 1, 201143,000 displaced by Accra floods...14 deaths recorded
The death toll in Accra rose to 14, while 43,087 people were said to have been affected by the downpour, officials of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) said.
May 31, 2013Downpour causes floods in AccraHeavy rains caused flooding in some parts of Accra. The rains, which started in some areas around 4.30 a.m., flooded areas such as the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, Darkuman Kokompe, the Obetsebi Lamptey Circle and portions of the Graphic Road, Santa Maria and the Dansoman Roundabout.
June 6, 2014Deluge hits AccraAccra’s poor planning was exposed when a deluge hit the national capital after more than10 hours of downpour.
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The heavy rains caused flooding in the city and its environs, including Adabraka, Awoshie, the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, Mallam, North Kaneshie, Abeka, Dansoman and Odorkor.
July 4, 2014
Heavy rains leave havoc in trailHeavy rains resulted in havoc, with the worst hit areas in Accra such as Anyaa, Taifa, Dome, Nii Boi Town, Dansoman, some parts of Kaneshie, Adabraka, Awoshie, the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, Mallam, Abeka, Dansoman and Odorkor submerged.
June 3, 2015
Twin disaster
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Ghana experienced its worst disaster in the country’s history. Tagged as the June 3 twin disaster.
Over 300 people were directly affected by the tragedy and the government declared three days of national mourning, took up the medical bills of those who escaped death and held a state burial for those who lost their lives.
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