cumbria floods and extreme weather in the UK

Question 1

physical causes

Answer 1

heavy rainfall- Cumbria has recived a months worth of rainfall in 36 hrs
saturated soil - soil already full of water increased due to surface runoff
steep slopes - cumbria mountains mean water reaches the rivers quickly
river confluence- cockermouth is at the confluence of the river derwent and the river cocker

Question 2

human causes

Answer 2

urbanisation- due to building on the floodplain in cockermouth there are lots of impermable surfaces to infiltrate
dredging- the river hadn’t been dredged in years so its capacity for water was smaller

Question 3

effects

Answer 3

• over 1300 houses flooded and contaminated with sewage
  -four bridges collapsed and 12 were closed due to flood damage
  -80% of buisnesses in Cockermouth affected by flooding
• a number of people evacuated including 50 via helicopter when the flooding cut off the town centre
  -40 out of 300 waste water treatment works affected
• 1 man died -PC bill barker
  Cockermouths derwent house gp surgery was flooded and forced to relocate
  250 farms affected

Question 4

short term effects

Answer 4

50 people evactuated
network rail opened a temporary station in workington
the cumbria flood recovery fund reached 1 million after 10 daays
the “visit cumbria “ website provided lists of people opening temporary accomidation

Question 5

long term responses

Answer 5

the goverment provided £1 million to help with reapirs
£4.4 million scheme was introduced
a new flood defence wall river dredged new embankments and flood gates
enviroment agency completed flood defence in cockermouth