Bridging gaps, saving lives: Integrating communities’ voices and impact mapping into flood early warning systems in rural Nepal

This study examines how flood early warning systems can be strengthened by combining community knowledge with spatial risk and impact information. Focusing on the West Rapti River Basin in rural Nepal, the research investigates barriers to effective flood early warning dissemination, maps potential flood impacts, and develops a spatial action plan linking warnings to preparedness and early action. 

The authors use a mixed-method approach that combines community surveys, key informant interviews, flood hazard mapping, exposure analysis, and impact assessment. Findings reveal challenges including limited warning dissemination, language barriers, low literacy, insufficient emergency shelters, and gaps in community preparedness. The study shows how flood impact maps can help prioritize evacuation planning, warning dissemination, emergency shelters, rapid response teams, and agricultural protection measures. The paper concludes that integrating local knowledge with risk mapping can improve the third and fourth pillars of early warning systems: communication and preparedness to respond. The proposed approach is designed for application in data-scarce rural basins and can support more effective flood preparedness, anticipatory action, and community resilience.