Case Study Boscastle Flood

Question 1

River?

Answer 1

Valency and Jordan

Question 2

Location?

Answer 2

Boscastle, UK

Question 3

Date?

Answer 3

16th August 2004

Question 4

Causes: physical-weather?

Answer 4

Torrential thunderstorm over catchment area dumped 6cm of rain in 2hrs meaning infiltration capacity of soil was exceeded leading to overland flow

Question 5

Causes: physical -geology?

Answer 5

Thin, clay soils quickly became saturated and impermeable slate and granite bedrock meant infiltration was further reduced and increased overland flow

Question 6

Causes: physical-rivers?

Answer 6

Confluence of rivers valency and Jordan meant rainfall from both catchments were transferred by rivers by overland flow and funnelled towards the town where rivers meet (boscastle)

Question 7

Causes: human- bridges?

Answer 7

Low bridges became blocked with debris further reducing the volume of river channel and making overspilling more likely

Question 8

Causes: human- building close to village?

Answer 8

Meant that when river did flood, it would cause greater damage- damage to people and proeprty

Question 9

Primary effects: social- deaths?

Answer 9

No deaths ,just a broken thumb as steep sides of river valley meant flood was confined to small area and people escaped easily

Question 10

Primary effects: social- cars?

Answer 10

Over 100 cars were swept away due to floodwaters being so powerful and these were a danger to people nearby

Question 11

Primary effects:economic?

Answer 11

25 business properties were destroyed including the Visitor Centre and the power of flow along with strong boulders carried by flood destroyed building walls and meant individuals lost job

Question 12

Primary effects: environmental -footbridges?

Answer 12

4 footbridges across the valency were washed away: debris carried by floodwater became trapped behind the low bridges causing pressure and so eventually gave way.

Question 13

Primary effects: environmental- pavements?

Answer 13

Pavements damaged by sheer strength of floodwaters and uneven surface was hazard to residents until repairs made

Question 14

Secondary effects: social?

Answer 14

Over 50 buildings were damaged and even when walls remained standing, other things like windows, garden and interior were washed away and the construction and cost caused stress and anxiety on owners

Question 15

Secondary effects: economic- tourism?

Answer 15

Decline in tourism as many tourism centres were destroyed e.g. Visitor centre. Very bad because 90% of its economy is reliant on tourism and so income of people would decrease

Question 16

Secondary effects: economic- companies?

Answer 16

Insurance companies paid an estimate £20 million to repair damage leading to increase of insurance premiums and therefore difficulty in insuring properties

Question 17

Secondary effects: environmental?

Answer 17

Concerns about public health after 300m of sewage pipe washed away leading to contamination of floodwaters with raw sewage

Question 18

Management: intermediate?

Answer 18

Emergency services: 7 helicopters airlifted 100 stranded people to safety and other emergency services compromised of representatives of almost every Cornwall County Fire Brigade Station and the coordinated response ensured minimal casualties and many helped for a week to clean up

Question 19

Management: long-term?

Answer 19

Changes to River Jordan and Valency. Jordan should have wider river channel to increase capacity and If flooding does happen, car parks around area should be above predicted flood levels. Valency should have changes to its upwards catchment area to reduce risk of flooding but no conclusions yet made

Question 20

Sustainability? Pos/neg

Answer 20

Short term response partly sustainable as it ensured minimum casualties, however much economic damage was done to properties and belongings. Long term response is + sustainable as it seeks to tackle underlying cause of flooding to reduce likelihood and associated, human, environmental and economic costs.