Hazards (local)- Storm Desmond

Question 1

Background info

Answer 1

-December 2015
-in the Eden Basin in Cumbria
-large volume of moist air forced upwards in the Cumbrian Highlands, quickly cooled and condensed into clouds= heat released through condensation brought heavy rainfall within 24 hours

Question 2

Social impacts

Answer 2

-43,000 homes without power across UK
-schools closed
-emergency hospital appointments cancelled
-ambulances delayed

Question 3

Environmental impacts

Answer 3

-winds of 140km/h
-rainfall beat 6yr record
-262.2mm of rainfall in first 48hrs
-River Greta rose to 5.32m meaning footbridge collapsed
-100 bridges damaged or destroyed
-landslide between Preston and Carlise

Question 4

Economic impacts

Answer 4

-cost economy £1 mil a day due to lack of tourism

Question 5

Short-term responses

Answer 5

-British Red Cross= set up rest centre and support
-negative= rest centre could have been flooded out eventually, increasing people’s exposure to dirty water
-quickened cleaning process to get tourism back

Question 6

Long-term responses

Answer 6

-£45 million spent by gov on flood defences= reinforced concrete wall in Kenswick