A Blueprint for Managing Flooding and Informing Decision-Making in Water Resource Management and Urban Planning in the Calabar Metropolis

Flooding is a recurring issue in many urban centers, especially in regions like the Calabar metropolis, where intense rainfall and urbanization contribute to increasing flood risk. This study focuses on conducting a comparative flood frequency analysis using annual peak rainfall data to assess flood hazards in Calabar. The study got rainfall data from the archives of Nigerian meteorological agency for eight years. The Gumbel and Log-Pearson Type III distributions were applied to determine flood magnitudes for various return periods (10, 20, 50, 100 years). Rainfall data spanning multiple years were analyzed to estimate the probability of extreme flood events. The results indicate significant variation in peak rainfall values between the two methods, with Log-Pearson III yielding higher estimates for longer return periods. Comparative graphs of peak rainfall versus return periods were plotted to assess flood severity trends, and the risk of flooding over time was evaluated. The study also highlights the challenges faced, including the high cost and unavailability of precise hydrological data. Findings from this analysis are critical for developing flood mitigation strategies and improving disaster preparedness in the Calabar metropolis. The outcomes emphasize the need for better data management and infrastructure planning to manage future flood risks effectively.