Early Detection Saves Lives
Lives can be saved when the concerned parties are notified of the flood incidents early in time
About the Floods Detection Management Information System (FDMIS)
What is FDMIS?
A digital early-warning system built for Busia
The Floods Detection Management Information System (FDMIS) is a real-time flood monitoring platform developed for Busia Municipality in Eastern Uganda. It empowers residents, local officials, and emergency responders with near real-time river discharge data and 14-day flood forecasts — enabling timely, life-saving decisions.
Busia sits at the confluence of River Malaba, River Lumboka, and their tributaries. Nearly flat terrain means upstream rainfall — even in Kenya — can surge through Busia with little warning. FDMIS bridges the gap between scientific flood data and community-level preparedness.
- ✓ Early warning before floodwaters arrive
- ✓ Automatic alerts to officials and communities
- ✓ 30-day risk calendar for advance planning
- ✓ Historical data archive for urban planning
River discharge
What does m³/s actually mean for Busia?
Discharge is the volume of water passing a point in the river every second, measured in cubic metres per second (m³/s). Think of it as how fast a pipe is delivering water — the higher the number, the more water is rushing through River Malaba right now.
For context: Busia's average daily river flow is just 1.27 m³/s. When discharge climbs past 2.76 m³/s (the Severe threshold), the river is more than twice its normal volume and almost certain to overflow into riverside homes, farms, and roads.
The standard deviation of ±0.73 m³/s tells you how much normal day-to-day variation to expect. Anything beyond two standard deviations above mean (≈ 2.73 m³/s) is statistically unusual and warrants close attention.
Anomaly index
Is the river above or below normal right now?
The anomaly shown on the Flood Status page is the difference between today's discharge and the long-term historical mean. It instantly tells you whether the river is running higher or lower than usual — without needing to remember what "normal" looks like.
- ▲ Positive value — discharge is above the historical mean. The higher the number, the more elevated the risk.
- ▼ Negative value — discharge is below average. Typical of dry season or drought conditions.
- ≈ Near zero — river is flowing close to its long-term average. No immediate concern.
Use the interactive panel to explore what different anomaly readings mean in plain language.
Risk levels
Five levels — one clear signal for action
FDMIS uses five risk levels derived from the GloFAS global flood percentile framework. Each threshold represents how often River Malaba historically exceeds that discharge level — giving each alert statistical meaning, not just a colour on a screen.
A P75 threshold means the river exceeds that level 25% of the time — it is a routine signal to prepare. A P99 threshold means the river reaches that level only 1% of the time — a once-in-a-century event demanding maximum response.
For each level, FDMIS prescribes a specific recommended action — from "stay informed" at Normal, to "evacuate immediately" at Severe and Extreme.
Who it serves
Built for everyone in Busia's flood-risk chain
FDMIS is not just a tool for engineers or government officials. It is designed so that a farmer checking their phone in the morning gets the same quality of information as a disaster management committee member in a meeting room.
The system delivers different alert channels to different audiences — SMS for immediate reach, email for detailed briefings, and the live dashboard for anyone with internet access.