COMMUNITY-BASED DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT (CBDRM) AND RESILIENCE BUILDING IN FLOOD-PRONE AREAS OF DELTA STATE

This study examined Community-Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) and resilience building in flood-prone areas of Delta State, Nigeria. The increasing frequency and severity of flooding in the region have highlighted the need for effective local-level participation in disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. The study specifically assessed the role of community participation in disaster risk management, identified factors influencing community resilience, and examined the relationship between CBDRM and resilience building. A descriptive survey research design was adopted, and data were collected from respondents in selected flood-prone communities in Delta State. The analysis was carried out using descriptive statistics such as mean and standard deviation, while inferential statistics were used to test the relationship between CBDRM and resilience. The findings revealed that respondents strongly agreed that community participation plays a significant role in disaster risk management, with a grand mean of 3.45, indicating a high level of awareness and involvement. The results further showed that resilience in flood-prone communities is influenced by multiple factors, including economic strength, access to timely information, infrastructure, external support, and local knowledge, with a grand mean of 3.46. Importantly, the study established a strong positive and statistically significant relationship between CBDRM and resilience building (r = 0.72, p < 0.05). This led to the rejection of the null hypothesis, confirming that CBDRM significantly enhances community resilience. The study concludes that resilience is not accidental but is built through sustained community engagement, collaboration, and preparedness. It recommends strengthened community participation structures, improved early warning systems, investment in infrastructure, and integration of indigenous knowledge into formal disaster management strategies.