A Study of Common Episodic Disaster Events in Zaria Urban Area, Nigeria

This study is an assessment of common episodic disaster events in greater Zaria area, Nigeria. The primary and secondary methods were used to obtain information for this study. In the primary method the questionnaire was used while the secondary method provided information on the rate of occurrence of some disasters, which was obtained from fire service in Zaria, Sabon Gari, Soba, Zaria and Markarfi Local government Councils. The common episodic disaster events studied are fire outbreak, violent distinctive Wing or storm, flooding and collapse of buildings and the outbreak of diseases or epidemic. The result revealed that these common episodic disaster events are caused naturally while some are man or human induced. The multiple regression results showed that there is a positive relationship between the occurrence of the episodic disaster events and the causative factors (measured by poverty, ignorance, room heating methods style and the discriminate disposal of waste). The result also revealed that fire outbreak and action of violent wind or storm cause a lot of destruction to peoples houses and properties. And the place of occurrence of the disaster is more at homes, offices places and markets. Also the percentage calculation showed that factors like room heating or warming style, poverty, discriminate disposal of waste, poor drainage system, contribute positively to the occurrence of episodic disaster events. Thus, confirming the result of the multiple regression analysis. It was recommended that people should be educated on how to develop their environment according to development plan, stop the use of wood fuel and charcoal for room heating and stop the discriminate disposal of waste which lend up blocking the drainages.