✅HAZARDS Case Study - Storm Desmond 2015

Question 1

Where

Answer 1

Cumbria, NW England

Question 2

When

Answer 2

Dec 2015

Question 3

Context

Answer 3

Storms Eva and Frank at the same time- made land more saturated, increased damage
Dec 2015 was wettest Dec since 1910, and temps were 4 C above average

Question 4

English climate

Answer 4

Temperate maritime climate
Warm air from tropics collides with cold polar air
Rainfall due to relief

Question 5

Air pressure

Answer 5

dropped to 939mb

Question 6

Rainfall on Dec 5th

Answer 6

A month’s worth in one day
341.4mm

Question 7

Wind speed

Answer 7

reached over 80 mph

Question 8

Response: warnings

Answer 8

Environmental Agency North West issued 44 severe storm warnings

Question 9

Immediate impacts

Answer 9

1 drowned
6570 properties lost power in Cumbria
River Eden burst its banks, flooded
Saturated soil, caused landslide in Glenridding Valley
Damages of £2.3b by damage
Soil erosion washed into streams, damaged water quality
Floods reached 7.9m, breaching the 7.2m high defences

Question 10

Response to the flood

Answer 10

Gov launched full national emergency response inc. 200 military personnel
Coastguard rescued six residents who were trapped by floods
£400,000 donated to victims of the flood
40 schools closed