Practical Action holds flood preparedness drill in Faridpur

Practical Action in Bangladesh, under the Zurich Climate Resilience Programme (Phase III), has organised a day-long flood preparedness simulation exercise at Padmar Char High School in North Channel Union, Faridpur Sadar upazila, to pilot a flag-based flood early warning system.

The initiative aims to strengthen local anticipatory action, improve coordination among key stakeholders, and enhance disaster preparedness at the community level.

Faridpur is widely recognised as one of Bangladesh's most flood-prone districts, with low-lying areas—particularly char communities—affected by annual flooding.

Recurring floods regularly damage homes, disrupt livelihoods, and limit access to basic services. The growing effects of climate change have increased uncertainty around the timing and severity of floods, making risk management and preparedness more complex.

While Bangladesh has advanced national early warning systems, the organisers note that a key challenge remains: translating technical forecasts into clear, actionable guidance for communities.

In many cases, river-level forecasts are difficult for the general public to interpret, limiting people's ability to take timely and effective preparedness measures.

To address this, the Dynamic Flood Risk Model (DFRM)—developed by the Institute of Water and Flood Management at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET)—is being piloted in Faridpur.

The model simplifies complex flood forecasting into five risk levels, each represented by a flag-based system from one to five flags.

Each level is directly linked to predefined anticipatory actions, enabling households, volunteers, and institutions to understand both the severity of the risk and the specific steps required before flooding occurs.

The programme brought together representatives from local government, the Department of Disaster Management, Bangladesh Water Development Board, Bangladesh Meteorological Department, Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence, the district relief and rehabilitation office, technical experts, volunteers, and local community members.

Through simulated flood scenarios, participants practised their roles and responsibilities, improving their ability to make coordinated decisions during emergencies.

In her opening remarks, Ishrat Shabnam, Country Director of Practical Action in Bangladesh, stated: 'Early warning systems must be understandable, inclusive, and effective for the communities that need them most. Practical Action is working with some of the most remote and climate-affected communities across Bangladesh to improve living conditions and ensure that timely warning messages reach those who are most vulnerable. We remain deeply committed to strengthening early warning systems so communities can better protect their lives and livelihoods.'

A community representative from North Channel Union stated: 'We face recurring floods year after year, and what we need most is timely and understandable warning information. Char communities face the highest level of risk, but we are often the last to receive clear guidance. That must change.'

The technical session was conducted by Professor Anisul Haque of the Institute of Water and Flood Management at BUET, who explained: 'The Dynamic Flood Risk Model transforms complex flood risk data into practical, visible flag-based warning messages for communities and local authorities. Each warning level, from one to five flags, is directly linked to an expected risk level and a set of specific preparedness actions. The goal is simple: by the time a flood arrives, everyone knows what to do.'

The simulation drill included active participation from the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, the Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence, and local volunteers and community members, who jointly practised response coordination, rescue operations, and first-aid measures for different risk levels.

Notable attendees included Md Nuruzzaman, Deputy Director of the Department of Disaster Management, and Syed Ariful Haque, District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer of Faridpur.

They noted that simulation exercises play a vital role in disaster preparedness by allowing stakeholders to rehearse pre-disaster activities for potential large-scale flood emergencies.

They observed that past disaster management often focused primarily on relief distribution after disasters had occurred. Given increasing climate risks, they stressed that greater priority must now be placed on preparedness, early action, and preventive measures to reduce damage and human suffering before floods strike.

Organisers stated that such simulation exercises demonstrate how scientific forecasting can be transformed into understandable, practical, and locally relevant information linked to concrete actions.

They added that, through coordinated preparedness planning and improved communication systems, such initiatives can play a crucial role in reducing flood losses and strengthening long-term resilience in Faridpur and other flood-prone areas of Bangladesh.