Boscastle Flash Flood Flashcards
1
Q
What is a flood?
A
A flood is an overflow of a large amount of water beyond its normal limits
2
Q
What is a flash flood?
A
Rapidly occurring flooding which takes place within 3 - 6 hours after short intense rainfall
3
Q
Where is Boscastle located?
A
South-west of the UK
4
Q
When was the Boscastle flash flood?
A
August 16th 2004
5
Q
What was the cause of the flashflood?
A
Rainfall
6
Q
What were human causes of the flashflood?
A
- Cars trapped under bridge
- Location of the car park
- Dated sewer systems
- Features of town
7
Q
What were physical causes of the flashflood?
A
- Narrow river channels
- 75mm rainfall in 2 hours
- Already saturated grounds
- Relief of land
8
Q
What were successful responses of the flashflood?
A
- Tree management
- Widened and heightened the bridge
- Biggest airlift since WW2 from the army
- Raising car park
9
Q
What were environmental consequences?
A
- 58 properties, 4 businesses, roads & bridges were destroyed
10
Q
What were economic consequences?
A
- Damage to wildlife habitat
11
Q
What were social consequences?
A
- 0 fatalities
- People could not evacuate due to suddenness of flooding
