Boscastle Case Study

Question 1

What were the causes for the Boscastle flood (2004)?

Answer 1

• Ground already saturated
• Over 80mm of rainfall fell in 2 hours
• Drainage basin has steep slopes and areas of impermeable state causing surface run-off
• Boscastle at theconfluence of 3 rivers: Valency, Jordan and Paradise
• Flooding coincided with high tide, making impacts worse
• Frontal rainfall

Question 2

What were the effects of the flood?

Answer 2

• 115 cars swept away.
• 120 people had to be rescued by helicopter.
• Six casualties were taken to hospital. No deaths.
• 58 properties flooded, four destroyed

Question 3

What were the responses to the flood?

Answer 3

• £10 million spend on flood defences
• Widening and deepening the river Valencey
• Improving flow of the river Jordan
• Raising the car park and adding new permeable surface
• The bridge in Boscastle was rebuilt higher