Boscastle Flashcards
When was the flood?
16th August 2004.
Physical causes of flood?
Torrential rain and rising high tide caused river levels to increase by 2.15m in only one hour.
The high land at Boscastle caused warm, moist air to rise rapidly and condense into clouds that were 12,000m high.
The ground was already saturated from previous rainfall.
Boscastle is the confluence point of 3 rivers (Valency, Jordan and Paradise)
The land was very steep which caused flood water to travel very quickly to the valley floor.
Human causes of flood?
The street pattern increased surface runoff. Cars and vegetation became trapped under a low-lying bridge. This acted as a dam and caused an increased flow of water into the village.
The old sewer systems were overwhelmed by the volume of water
Social impacts?
84 wrecked cars were recovered from the streets and local harbour. 32 were never found.
1000 residents and tourists were affected.
58 properties were flooded.
Economic impacts?
90% of the economy of Boscastle is dependent on tourism and more than 20 hotels and Bed & Breakfasts were forced to shut. Infrastructure damage to roads and services was predicted to cost more than £2 billion.
25 businesses were destroyed.
Environmental impacts?
Four bridges were washed away.
Trees were uprooted and carried downstream.
Responses?
Seven helicopters from the RAF and Royal navy were used in the rescue operation. 120 people rescued.
£10 million pound improvements- river was widened and the car park was raised to a higher level. A flood culvert was also installed to improve the flow of the River Jordan.
