Coping with and adapting to urban floods: experiences of flood community-dwelling households in Aboabo, Ghana

ABSTRACT Many Ghanaian cities are increasingly becoming hotspots for floods with rising household vulnerabilities. However, research to understand the coping mechanisms of these households remains limited. This paper examines flood coping and adaptation strategies of flood community-dwelling households (n = 45) using a qualitative approach. Data gathering involved in-depth interviews using an interview guide. Data were analysed using the thematic analytical framework. The study revealed that households employed different coping and adaptation strategies to reduce the impact of floods and reduce their vulnerabilities to floods. While the coping strategies provided temporary relief, the over-reliance on structural methods of adaptation did not protect the participants well enough against the shocks of subsequent floods. A balanced use of structural and non-structural flood control mechanisms for effective adaptation is required.

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