Flash flooding, driven by rapid urbanization, inadequate drainage infrastructure and climate variability, has become a recurrent environmental hazard in Uyo, the capital city of Akwa Ibom state, Nigeria. This study investigates the resilience capacity dynamics to flash flood events within the city, with a specific focus on spatial vulnerability and adaptive responses at multiple levels. The study pursues two key objectives: first, to identify and map areas affected by flash floods in Uyo using Geospatial tools and Field data and second; to assess the existing household, organizational and societal resilience strategies employed to cope with, and adapt to flooding incidents. Through the integration of GIS, remote sensing and qualitative data from community surveys, the research provides a spatially informed understanding of flood prone areas across the urban landscape. The study revealed that low lying areas and settlements are affected due to poor infrastructure and proximity to obstructed waterways. The study also highlights varying levels of resilience with households relying on informal coping mechanisms such as the use of sand bags to block floods while formal institutions offer limited support. Organizational and societal resilience mechanisms show potential but are under-coordinated. The study underscores the need for integrated and multi-level resilience planning, emphasizing community involvement, infrastructure upgrades and policy alignment to enhance adaptive capacity and reduce vulnerability in flood prone areas of Uyo.

Flash floods; disaster risk; Urban flooding; Resilience Capacity; Uyo.

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