Omusati Region, Namibia Flood Contingency Plan

In recent years the Region has be prone to recurrent droughts, floods, and veldt fires, human and animal diseases. The Cuvelai ecological area of the Region is characterized by thousands of shallow drainage channels locally known as oshanas. Flooding of the oshanas in the Cuvelai normally occurs after heavy local rains or good rainfalls in the highlands of neighboring Angola. The Region faces yearly small scale floods, which sometimes results in damage of varying magnitudes. However during 2008/2009 unprecedented floods were experienced affecting above 166 000 people across the Region causing extensive damage to socio-economic infrastructures. According to recent experiences the most high flood risk areas are Outapi, Anamulenge, Okalongo, Etayi, Ogongo, Oshikuku, Elim and Otamanzi. Due to the high impact and extensive nature of damage, floods are the highest priority for contingency planning.