In this flood hazard profile development computation of inundation areas for different return periods using digital elevation model (DEM) based hydrologic modeling was not used due to time and elevation data limitations. Flood hazard information can be used in flood protection or mitigation using structural and non-structural means, planning relief operations and awareness. Structural methods involve construction of flood levees, flood protection reservoirs, flood ways or channel improvements. Non-structural methods consist of catchment and land use management improved warning and evacuation.

The human, socio-economic and environmental impacts of floods in Sierra Leone has seen a skyrocketing trend over the last decades - Between 1980 and 2010, floods affected approximately 221,204 people, killing some 145 people (11% of people killed by disasters other than the war) [1]. This number has seen an upward trend over the last few years.

On 24 June 2017, heavy downpour of rain flooded two towns of Largor Jasawabu in the Nongowa Chiefdom and Foindu Mameima in the Lower Bambara Chiefdom, near Kenema. About 100 houses were reportedly destroyed leaving some 824 people homeless[2].

Torrential rainfall in the month of August 2017 led to widespread flooding across different parts of Freetown City. On the same night of the most devastating landslide disaster in Sierra Leone (14 August 2017), torrential rains led to a series of significant floods in several areas of Freetown, including Karningo, Kamayama, Dwarzark, Kroo Bay, Congo Town, Kissy Brook, and Culvert community in Granville Brook.

A health centre, the bridge and a school at Kroo Bay were flooded on the night between Saturday and Sunday 26/27 August 2017 in downtown Freetown, resulting in one fatality and two injuries[3].

In 2015 alone, over 20,000 people were affected by floods in several districts across the country. Sustained heavy downpour of rain from the 5 to the 6 September 2015 (48 hours) burst river banks and caused destruction in eight communities in Bo and two in one Chiefdom in Pujehun District in southern Sierra Leone. Some 2,630 (463 males 614 females, 645 boys, 607 girls and 301 children under five years) in 239 households were directly affected, with about 339 houses reportedly destroyed in Bo alone. In Pujehun District about 272 persons were affected by the floods with 16 houses destroyed[4].

On the 23 September 2015, floods ravaged the city of Freetown causing tremendous damage to property, loss of livelihood and displacing over 14,000 people.