Boscastle Flood Flashcards
1
Q
What date did Boscastle Flood?
A
16th August 2004
2
Q
What were the causes of the Boscastle floods? (5)
A
- The local area was saturated by weeks of rainfall - 15mm of rain fell in 15 minutes at Lesnewth near Boscastle
- Confluence of 3 rivers in Boscastle increased discharge (Jordan, Valency and Paradise)
- Steep V shaped valleys increases runoff
- Impermeable underlying rock reduced infiltration
- Car parks either side of the Valency increased surface runoff
3
Q
What were the effects of the Boscastle floods and categorise them in S.E.E.P. (6)
A
- 3 metre wall of water destroys infrastructure (homes, offices, bridges) sweeping out to sea - Social, economic, environmental
- No deaths - social
- Visitor centre collapsed - Economic
- Homes devalued and insurance up, £15m in damages and claims - social, economic
- Silt and debris was left after flood waters subsided - environmental
- Tourism reduced. This was a serious cost for a small community with seasonal employment problem, over reliant on summer tourism - economic
4
Q
What were the Short term responses after the Boscastle flood? (7)
A
- Environment agency issues flood warnings
- Falmouth Coast Guard mobilised
- Lifeboats and motorised dinghies go house to house rescuing people and check cars out to sea
- RAF helicopters from Chivenor saved 150 people
- Fire brigades and police on the scene within an hour
- Temporary accommodation set up on Boscastle football pitch
- Rapid evacuation
5
Q
What were the long term responses after the Boscastle flood and caterogise them into S.E.E.P.
A
- North Cornwall District Council banned Boscastle residents from returning to even look at their homes for the first ten days, while structural engineers inspected properties - social
- Insurance and compensation was provided for businesses and homeowners. These ‘disruption to trading’ claims amounted to £15m. - Economic
- Telephone, water, electricity and gas supplies were all reinstalled within six months - Social
- Within 6 months residents were home, following extensive clear up removal of silt and debris (76 up-ended cars on village green - social, environmental
