LAUSR

Egypt suffers from freshwater crisis, and the shortage is predicted to become severe by 2025. Egypt is exposed to flash floods, especially in Sinai governorate, causing rapid rises of water in a short amount of time and can trigger other catastrophic hazards associated with damage, danger to human life, properties and environment. Flash floods may be considered a source of water that can be explored to meet the water shortage problem. In this study, a composite flash floods vulnerability index based on an integrated hydro-climatic and physical vulnerability component was created. The composite index was based on eight parameters including rainfall distribution, elevation and slope, flow direction, streams, geomorphological features, soil type and land cover. The composite index was ranked into three categories: high, moderate and low. The index can help identify the weak and strong points to support the decision-making process concerned with water management as an essential prerequisite for Egypt sustainable development. The results revealed that the urban, vegetation cover, loamy sand, sand dunes, the low elevation and the flat areas are the most affected by the flash floods in EL-Arish City in Sinai governorate. 42% of Wadi El-Arish had low vulnerability, 45% moderate vulnerability and 13% high vulnerability.