Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
On Monday 16 August 2004, the village of Boscastle in Cornwall suffered one of the worst incidents of flooding in local memory. A 3 metre wall of water travelling at 40 mph hit the village.WHAT WERE THE CAUSES OF FLOODING?
1. 89mm of rain fell in an hour and saturated land so less rain could infiltrate so water reaches river quicker.
2. The steep valleys upstream of Boscastle act as funnels so there is more surface run off and water reaches the river quicker.
3. Impermeable ground made from shale, slate and clay soils means water does not infiltrate so it reaches the river quicker.
4. Boscastle stands on a confluence of 3 narrow rivers Jordan & Valency so there was a lot of water passing through village in small channels.
5. The village bridge constricted the flow of the water through the village, forcing the river to burst its banks.
6. The natural channel had been walled so the river couldn’t adjust to the sudden increase in water.
7. The village of Boscastle was built on the rivers flood plain.
8. Deforestation in the surrounding hills meant there was less interception so more rain water reaching the river.
ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF FLOODS
Loss of business
90% of Boscastle’s income is from tourism and these services were forced to close.
20 accommodation providers had to shut – took a long time to re-open.
Commercial damage was estimated at £15 million.
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF THE FLOODS
Trees were uprooted
6 buildings were washed into the sea, bridges were destroyed.
Debris clogged the river and silt covered the surrounding floodplain and buildings.
SOCIAL EFFECTS OF THE FLOODS
Loss of homes & possessions
Injury
Loss of public services (electricity, water etc.)
Around 75 cars and 6 buildings were washed into the sea
Several leisure boats were lost
No loss of life was reported.
In conjunction with the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI), a fleet of seven Royal Navy and RAF helicopters rescued 150 people
50 people were trapped in their vehicles
1000 people were evacuated from the village & placed in emergency accommodation.
