Mitigating the Impact of Floods: An IoT-Driven Monitoring and Alert System for Somalia's Rivers

Abstract - Natural disasters like floods significantly threaten human lives, infrastructure, and the environment. Millions of
people are affected by floods yearly, among the most destructive and common disasters worldwide. Floods can
significantly influence agriculture, causing harm to crops, soil fertility, and infrastructure in Somalia, where they account for 20% of the country's GDP and 5% of GDP volatility. Compared to other sectors, Somalia's agriculture is more vulnerable to climate and weather extremes, such as temperature changes, unanticipated rain patterns, and increased floods and droughts. The Internet
of Things (IoT) recently came into existence as a powerful technology that has the potential to change how we live and work
entirely. In this regard, an IoT-enabled river flood monitoring and alert system could be groundbreaking. This article suggests
and develops a Somalia-specific real-time and cost-effective Internet of Things (IoT) Enabled River Flood Monitoring and
Alert System. The system will use IoT sensors and data analytics to gather data about many aspects of the environment and the
river. The data will be sent to a central database for further analysis. Such technology could provide authorities in Somalia
and the community living close to flood-prone areas early warning of future floods, enabling them to take preventative action
to mitigate the effects of these natural disasters.