Boscastle, flood

Question 1

Where is Boscastle

Answer 1

Northwest coast of Cornwall, southeast England

Question 2

What confluence is it situated at

Answer 2

Of the river valency and its tributaries the main one being the river Jordan

Question 3

When did the flood occur

Answer 3

16th August 2004

Question 4

What were the causes for the flood ( 5 )

Answer 4

1/ Warm see breezes joined with southerly air flow rising rapidly forming large cumulonimbus clouds
2/ Ground already saturated from recent rain, so impermeable ground meant precipitation > infiltration
3/ Steep catchment as well as river getting narrower
4/ Peak discharge 100 cumecs
5/ Debris dams store water until breaking point resulting in flood wave

Question 5

What were the effects ( 6 )

Answer 5

1/ 75 cars and 6 building washed away
2/ No deaths but many injuries
3/ Many buildings damaged
4/ Trees uprooted, roads destroyed electrical supplies cut off
5/ accommodation providers forced to shut
6/ seven helicopters sent to rescue people

Question 6

How was the river managed after ( 6 )

Answer 6

1/ New bridge across R.Valency and widened channel
2/ Straightened and deepened river beds by 2 metres (hard)
3/ strengthened 200 metre length of river embankments with gabions
4/ main car park raised by 1m with area left to flood protecting properties
5/ an emergency relief culvert installed
6/ Afforestation on the upper catchment slopes