The Gambia | Pluvial floods (surface water) - Simplified Early Action Protocol (MDRGM018)

Country: Gambia Source: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Please refer to the attached file. RISK ANALYSIS AND EARLY ACTION SELECTION Prioritized hazard and its historical impact. The Gambia, like many other Africa countries, is susceptible to and unable to cope with the adverse effects of climate change, including extreme weather events, rising temperatures, sea-level rise, and other environmental shifts. The terrain is predominantly flat, with a narrow coastal plain and a gently wave-like in the interior The climate of The Gambia is a tropical type with two seasons: 1. a short rainy season from June to October, and 2. a long dry season from November to May. Average annual rainfall varies between 700mm and 1,000 mm according to the Department of Water Resources (DWR). More than 80% of the annual rainfall is recorded between July and September. August is the wettest month with the number of rainy days estimated to be around 19 days. Average temperatures in The Gambia range from 18°C to 30°C during the dry season and 23°C to 33°C during the wet season. According to the National Hazard Profile of The Gambia, flash flooding is one of the highest priority natural hazards in The Gambia. In the Gambia Pluvial Floods (Surface water floods happen because of heavy and prolonged downpour occurs thus saturating and overwhelming lower grounds and drainage systems. The accumulation of rainwater in compounds, houses, streets, farmlands and low-lying areas with inappropriate waterways (blocked or encroached natural and artificial waterways) usually results in harsh devastation and destruction. These factors are aggravated by the rapid urbanization & the rapid growth of unregulated expansion of settlement patterns and systems in the country. Thes...

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