Disasters in Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone's disaster risks include urban flash floods, river floods, coastal inundation, landslides, mudslides, rock falls, coastal erosion, sea-level rise, storm surges, tropical storms, strong winds, lightning, drought, severe heat, wildfires, house fires, building collapse, dam failure, pollution and major road accidents. Epidemics may also require disaster coordination, although clinical treatment and public-health services belong primarily to the health sector. Earthquake risk is considered very low compared with the country's other major hazards. Flooding is the most frequent natural hazard. Blocked drainage, uncontrolled settlement, construction on steep slopes or floodplains, deforestation and poverty can increase damage. Around 13% of the country's land area and more than 35% of its population are exposed to multiple hazards. Freetown Peninsula, Western Area Urban and Rural, coastal communities and settlements near rivers face particularly high exposure. The 14 August 2017 Regent and Mortomeh mudslide and flood killed 1,141 people and affected about 6,000 people. The disaster led to a Level 3 emergency and the Mile Six resettlement, but it should not be treated as an isolated event when assessing current risk. The National Disaster Management Agency, usually called NDMA, is Sierra Leone's central disaster-management authority under the National Disaster Management Agency Act 2020, Act 3. It works through the National Emergency Operations Centre, or NEOC, regional and district committees and emergency operations centres, chiefdom committees, local councils, Paramount Chiefs and community volunteers. The Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency, known as SLMet, provides weather and extreme-event information. The National Water Resources Management Agency monitors rivers and surface water and supports flood forecasting. The Environment Protection Agency monitors environmental conditions. The Ministry of Health monitors epidemic risks. The Sierra Leone Red Cross Society can relay community reports through telephone and GSM systems. The warning system remains fragmented rather than fully nationwide and multi-hazard. SLMet issues daily forecasts at about 17:00 and alerts for thunderstorms, heavy rainfall and strong winds. Automatic weather stations operate in places including Bo, Kenema, Koidu, Mokaba, Rogberi, Kabala, Makeni and Wilberforce. The Alerts and Warnings portal supports Common Alerting Protocol warnings from 2026. NDMA and NEOC analyse information and distribute it to ministries, departments, agencies, local governments, communities and media. Warnings may also reach communities through radio, television, chiefs, volunteers and local organisations. Check the issuing authority and follow the latest NDMA, SLMet or NWRMA message because coverage, funding, data standards and local reception can vary. Preparedness combines national plans with local action. The National Disaster Risk Management Policy, the National Preparedness, Response and Recovery Plan and relief standard operating procedures set the framework. Cabinet approved the preparedness, response and recovery plan on 10 October 2024. A 2022 flood-mitigation plan identified 54 critical areas and 48 high-risk areas. Before heavy rain, keep drains and waterways clear, do not put waste into drainage channels, avoid unstable slopes and river channels, learn local evacuation paths and gathering points and take part in community exercises where available. Sierra Leone's service-delivery charter expects households to prepare for up to 72 hours of self-sufficiency, including when evacuation is expected. NEOC uses four operational levels. Level 1 covers routine work and preparedness. Level 2 covers monitoring when an emergency appears imminent. Level 3 activates incident command and may activate district or other emergency operations centres partially or fully, with national assistance when needed. Level 4 involves all relevant sectors, a 24-hour NEOC, activated district centres and national assets. NDMA coordinates warning dissemination, search and rescue, evacuation, reception centres, rapid-response teams, public information, supplies and operating procedures. District emergency operations centres lead local coordination, while chiefdom committees and community volunteers often provide the first response. When authorities order or advise evacuation, leave the dangerous area promptly, use the local path and gathering point or reception centre identified by authorities and do not return until officials give clearance. Public evacuation guidance exists, but no single nationwide list of shelters or uniform evacuation triggers has been verified. Local district and chiefdom plans therefore matter. People should report changing conditions, trapped households and urgent needs through district or chiefdom structures, local councils, chiefs, the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society, radio channels or NDMA. NDMA's toll-free 1199 number is available on Africell, and the service charter states that the call has no charge. NDMA's headquarters are at 64 Sir Samuel Lewis Road, Aberdeen, Freetown; its published contact is info@ndma.gov.sl. Regional or provincial offices are listed for Freetown, Bo, Kenema, Port Loko and Makeni. Sierra Leone has no verified universal public emergency number with nationwide service coverage, so the available local authority, police, fire, medical or community channel may depend on the emergency and location. Emergency assistance normally follows an NDMA assessment, identification or registration of affected households, classification of needs and distribution through NDMA, local authorities and partners. Possible support includes food and non-food items, rice, cooking oil, zinc sheets, nails, building materials, cash transfers and livelihood or agricultural support. The type, timing and amount depend on the scale of the event, assessment results, logistics, funding and the response partners involved. The law and policy framework allow immediate assistance even without a formal disaster declaration, but there is no verified fixed payment or universal individual compensation entitlement. The National Disaster Management Fund provides a legal financing mechanism. People have a right to dignified treatment, to be heard and to submit feedback or complaints through NDMA channels. Communities are expected to prepare where possible, follow credible warnings, help protect life and property and support coordinated response. Relief procedures aim for fair distribution based on identification, registration and assessed need. Sierra Leone Red Cross Society, WFP, NGOs, civil-society organisations and local councils may support delivery, but their presence and available assistance differ by event and area. Recovery can include rebuilding, livelihood restoration, infrastructure repair, resettlement, relocation support, recovery subsidies and disaster insurance within the national policy framework. The Mile Six resettlement is a documented example. Relocation subsidies and insurance are policy objectives, not verified nationwide universal entitlements. The recovery approach also promotes safer rebuilding, risk-informed land use, drainage and river management and coastal monitoring. The Disaster Risk Financing Strategy 2024–2029 addresses flood, fire, mudslide or landslide, infection or epidemic and wider fiscal risks. The national plan proposes at least 1.5% of each sector budget for disaster risk management and a three-month emergency reserve, but the implementation status is not fully verified. Crime and security incidents, clinical health treatment, water and sanitation services and environmental issues without a disaster function belong primarily to adjacent topics.