Vulnerability of Buildings to Flooding in Anambra State, Nigeria: Causes and Implications for Resilient Design.

Abstract

In Anambra State, Nigeria, flooding is a serious threat to the longevity and functionality of structures due to a range of environmental and human-caused factors. This study looks at how susceptible buildings are to floods, with an emphasis on the causes, effects, and consequences for resilient design. A comprehensive assessment of academic studies, policy documents, and peer-reviewed literature served as the foundation for the research's qualitative methodology. The results show that low-lying topography, heavy rainfall, inadequate drainage systems, poor land-use planning, and lax enforcement of building codes are the main causes of building vulnerability. The study also demonstrates how flooding seriously damages buildings' structural integrity, deteriorates their materials, and disrupts their functionality, resulting in financial losses and displacement. Elevated buildings, amphibious structures, and better urban planning are examples of resilient design techniques that are recognized as successful mitigation tactics to address these issues. The study comes to the conclusion that lowering the region's susceptibility to flooding requires robust architectural design and integrated planning.