The annual flooding in regions such as the RAPTI and Narayani rivers in Chitwa can be devastating to people's livelihoods. The floods cannot be predicted and warnings are typically relayed by word of mouth. By the time the information reaches the last household in a settlement, it is often already too late. Practical action is improving communities coping strategies through initiatives such as early warning systems, emergency shelters and dikes to channel away the water. These projects protect farmland, safeguard people's homes and save lives.