Community Preparedness and Resilience to Flood Disasters: A Study of flood-prone Community at Bhokraha Rural Municipality, Sunsari, Nepal

Abstract

A flood disaster is a destructive event. It affects physical structures, social capital, school children, and livelihood resources, and disrupts the functioning of society. Community preparedness is vital for responding to it and saving society while maintaining its smooth functioning. Resilience enables them to access prior information and makes them prepared to respond. So, community preparedness and resilience are interconnected. The study is guided by the Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction (CBDRR) framework and the Pressure and Release (PAR) Model. They focus on the mechanisms of disaster preparedness and on the community’s resilience in responding to disasters. Under the qualitative method, tools and techniques include in-depth interviews, fieldwork, group discussion, and case study. The triangulation process is carried out under PRA, and the data are verified. The thematic analysis of the data helps identify the unspoken causes of disasters and vulnerabilities. The research location is Bhokraha, Narsingh, Wards 4 and 5, the Municipality’s highly flood-prone wards. Findings show that the community can measure flood impacts and understand the importance of being resilient to avoid destruction. It leads them to develop the response strategy. They learn to form inclusive committees and use preparedness knowledge to reduce vulnerability. They become resilient to act and activate stakeholders, local governance for their safety. Empowering communities is the best way to avoid hazards and their impacts, ensuring sustainable resilience for peace and social harmony. Keywords h c f a l d A ; s n s o o t k n f a i community preparedness; flood impacts; local governance; resilience; vulnerability