Carlisle Floods 2005

Question 1

What were the meteorolgical causes of Carlisle?

Answer 1

• Heavey prolonged rain fell for 36 hours due to a drepression which brought frontal rain.
• 200mm of rain was recorded (four months worth) which caused a peak discharge of 1520cumecs (52 is avg)
• As the ground was saturated from bad antecedic conditions, there was more SRO

Question 2

What were the physical causes of Carlisle?

Answer 2

• It is situated where the River Caldew, Peteril and Eden all meet at a confluence
• Carlisle is built on a low lying floodplain
• The highlands (Pennines and Caldbeck fells) have shallow soil, impermeable rock, high relief and relief rain fall

Question 3

What were the human causes of Carlisle?

Answer 3

• Lots of impermeable surfaces
• Little infiltration
• Over flowing drains and sewers

Question 4

What were the social impacts of the Carlisle floods?

Answer 4

• London road only safe way out
• Three people dead and two missing
• Police and Fire stations flooded
• Schools closed
• 120 flood related injuries
• 70000 homes with no power
• 1865 properties flooded
• 3000 people homeless for one year

Question 5

What were the economic impacts of the carlisle floods?

Answer 5

• Transport could not get in or out of the city
• £250 million worth of damage
• 300 businesses flooded
• 350 businesses shut down
• Businesses lost stock
• Unlimited Biscuits flooded
• Bridges damaged

Question 6

What were the environmental imapacts of the Carlisle floods?

Answer 6

• River bank erosion
• Trees uprooted
• River burst its banks
• Polluted water
• Fish in peoples houses and in streets
• Wildlife disturbed