Preparing for flood disaster: mapping and assessing hazard in the Ratu watershed, Nepal

This study documents the use of flood-hazard mapping as a way of helping communities to devise plans that would help them develop warning and response systems. It allows communities to prepare a management plan that will boost their resilience to mitigate damages and salvage their livelihoods to the extent possible. This study and flood-hazard mapping of the Ratu Khola watershed in Nepal seeks to encourage others to undertake similar work.

This publication is a summary of a detailed study on flood-risk and vulnerability mapping of the Ratu Khola using GIS methods. It is divided into four chapters. Chapter One describes the biophysical and socioeconomic characteristics of Nepal, discusses the types, frequency, and magnitude of losses from different types of natural disaster and their spatial concentration with special reference to flood disasters, and assesses the vulnerability to flood hazards in the country. Chapter Two describes flood-hazard and risk mapping in the Ratu Watershed. This chapter provides details of the project area and the methodology for and results of hazard, risk, and vulnerability mapping. Chapter Three gives an account of the assessment carried out on response and resilience in the context of hazard, risk, and vulnerability in the Ratu Watershed. Chapter Four covers the main findings, conclusions, and recommendations.