Case Study - Cumbria Floods

Question 1

dates (cf)

Answer 1

18th-20th November 2009

Question 2

human causes (cf) (4)

Answer 2

-urbanisation
-bridges
-lack of dredging
-car caused blockages

Question 3

physical causes (cf) (4)

Answer 3

-350mm rain on 19th
-31.4cm rain in 1 day
-lakes filled already from previous rain
-steep slopes, impermeable rocks, thin soils, sparse vegetation

Question 4

primary effects (cf) (8)

Answer 4

-1 death
-1700 houses flooded
-1800 unsafe bridges
->100 flooded businesses
-18 farms damaged badly
-train stations flooded
-250 farms affected
-2.5m flood water left

Question 5

secondary effects (cf) (11)

Answer 5

-1500 homes without power
-limited access to schools + hospitals
-looting
-many abandon homes
-80% of business affected
-£100mil insurance claims
-cost >£275 mil
->12000 tonnes of sand, gravel deposited
-soil erosion
-6% of tourism shut down
-£28,000 av. home repairs
-

Question 6

immediate responses (cf) (5)

Answer 6

-emergency services
-appeal raising £10mil
-clothes banks etc
-volunteers
-£1mil aid

Question 7

long-term responses (cf) (8)

Answer 7

-£4.5mil flood defences
-mobile wall built
-extreme weather warnings from Met
-more river gauges
-more regular dredging
-new embankments
-flood-warning messages
-adverts publicise tourism