Evaluation of an early flood warning system in Bamako (Mali): Lessons learned from the flood of May 2019
Abstract Devastating floods have plagued many West African cities in the past decades. In an attempt to reduce flood damage in Bamako (Mali), an early warning system (EWS) demonstrator (Raincell App) was developed for flash floods. On 16 May 2019, while the demonstrator was partially operational, an...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Journal of Flood Risk Management |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1111/jfr3.12878 |
| _version_ | 1797732627256442880 |
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| author | Nanée Chahinian Matias Alcoba Ndji dit Jacques Dembélé Fréderic Cazenave Christophe Bouvier |
| author_facet | Nanée Chahinian Matias Alcoba Ndji dit Jacques Dembélé Fréderic Cazenave Christophe Bouvier |
| author_sort | Nanée Chahinian |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Devastating floods have plagued many West African cities in the past decades. In an attempt to reduce flood damage in Bamako (Mali), an early warning system (EWS) demonstrator (Raincell App) was developed for flash floods. On 16 May 2019, while the demonstrator was partially operational, an intense rainfall event led to devastating floods. We carried out an experience feedback on this flood event by comparing EWS simulations to the results of a field survey. Given the synoptic situation and the rapid development pattern of the storm, none of the global forecasting systems were able to foresee its occurrence and magnitude. The hydrological model developed as part of the demonstrator correctly identified most of the locations where overbank flow occurred. In the absence of data, the predicted discharge and volume values could not be validated. However, they are realistic based on the water levels reported in the Post‐Disaster Needs Assessment report. It would be advisable to couple it to a two‐dimensional hydraulic model and add discharge and water level monitoring to the already existing rainfall surveillance scheme to further improve the system's performance. Increasing the local population's awareness of the dangers of clogged waterways is also mandatory. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T12:16:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-02f25bb203df47909c971f2e505f26fe |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1753-318X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T12:16:18Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Flood Risk Management |
| spelling | doaj.art-02f25bb203df47909c971f2e505f26fe2023-08-30T10:00:52ZengWileyJournal of Flood Risk Management1753-318X2023-09-01163n/an/a10.1111/jfr3.12878Evaluation of an early flood warning system in Bamako (Mali): Lessons learned from the flood of May 2019Nanée Chahinian0Matias Alcoba1Ndji dit Jacques Dembélé2Fréderic Cazenave3Christophe Bouvier4HSM (Univ Montpellier, CNRS, IRD) Montpellier FranceIGE (Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble INP, CNRS, IRD) Grenoble FranceUniversité des Sciences Sociales et de Gestion de Bamako Bamako MaliIGE (Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble INP, CNRS, IRD) Grenoble FranceHSM (Univ Montpellier, CNRS, IRD) Montpellier FranceAbstract Devastating floods have plagued many West African cities in the past decades. In an attempt to reduce flood damage in Bamako (Mali), an early warning system (EWS) demonstrator (Raincell App) was developed for flash floods. On 16 May 2019, while the demonstrator was partially operational, an intense rainfall event led to devastating floods. We carried out an experience feedback on this flood event by comparing EWS simulations to the results of a field survey. Given the synoptic situation and the rapid development pattern of the storm, none of the global forecasting systems were able to foresee its occurrence and magnitude. The hydrological model developed as part of the demonstrator correctly identified most of the locations where overbank flow occurred. In the absence of data, the predicted discharge and volume values could not be validated. However, they are realistic based on the water levels reported in the Post‐Disaster Needs Assessment report. It would be advisable to couple it to a two‐dimensional hydraulic model and add discharge and water level monitoring to the already existing rainfall surveillance scheme to further improve the system's performance. Increasing the local population's awareness of the dangers of clogged waterways is also mandatory.https://doi.org/10.1111/jfr3.12878early warning systemsexperience feedback (EF)flash floodforecasting and warninghydrological modellingpluvial flooding |
| spellingShingle | Nanée Chahinian Matias Alcoba Ndji dit Jacques Dembélé Fréderic Cazenave Christophe Bouvier Evaluation of an early flood warning system in Bamako (Mali): Lessons learned from the flood of May 2019 Journal of Flood Risk Management early warning systems experience feedback (EF) flash flood forecasting and warning hydrological modelling pluvial flooding |
| title | Evaluation of an early flood warning system in Bamako (Mali): Lessons learned from the flood of May 2019 |
| title_full | Evaluation of an early flood warning system in Bamako (Mali): Lessons learned from the flood of May 2019 |
| title_fullStr | Evaluation of an early flood warning system in Bamako (Mali): Lessons learned from the flood of May 2019 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluation of an early flood warning system in Bamako (Mali): Lessons learned from the flood of May 2019 |
| title_short | Evaluation of an early flood warning system in Bamako (Mali): Lessons learned from the flood of May 2019 |
| title_sort | evaluation of an early flood warning system in bamako mali lessons learned from the flood of may 2019 |
| topic | early warning systems experience feedback (EF) flash flood forecasting and warning hydrological modelling pluvial flooding |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1111/jfr3.12878 |
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