Cumbria floods
- Created by: MorganDavy
- Created on: 14-03-17 16:52
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- Cumbria floods
- Location
- Cumbria is located in Northern England near the Lake District.
- In late November 2009 the heaviest ever rainfall ever recorded in the UK hit Cumbria.
- Hitting the town Cockermouth particularly badly flooding 900 properties and affecting 1,400 people.
- Causes
- Cumbria had already received a months worth of average rainfall so the soil couldn't absorb as much water.
- Atlantic depression moving north-east over Scotland and Northern England.
- Extreme rainfall - 32cm in just 24 hours.
- Water ran straight down the Lake District hills and rivers over flowing.
- Impacts
- Social
- Primary
- Police officer killed by bridge collapse.
- Many people injured.
- 1500 homes flooded.
- 2,239 properties affected.
- Secondary
- River water contaminated by sewage caused health problems.
- 198 affected people sought psychological help.
- Primary
- Economic
- Primary
- Many businesses were damaged by the floods and were unable to reopen for a long period of time.
- Debris from the rivers damaged 25 bridges making travel and trade increasingly difficult.
- 250 farms affected- less crops.
- Secondary
- £100 million total damage
- Businesses rebuilt shop fronts better than before improving the looks of the town.
- Tourism businesses lost £2.5 million due to flooding.
- Port of Washington closed - less trade.
- Primary
- Environmental
- Primary
- River Derwent was 10m wider than normal.
- Water in the rivers flowed 25 times faster than normal speeds.
- Secondary
- Water erosion from the River Derwent caused landslides along the river bank which swept away trees and plants damaging the local ecosystems.
- Primary
- Social
- Management strategies
- 17 bridges repaired within a year.
- Over £4 million spent on repairing public rights of way, mainly in Lake District.
- £4 million repair programme on Port of Workington - improvements.
- New £3.4 million wastewater pumping station in Carlisle.
- Cockermouth Flood Action Group developed a £4.4 million flood barrier.
- Environment Agency built walls embankments, flood gates and fitted gates to protect houses and businesses.
- Government provided £1 million to help clean up process.
- Temporary rail stations and foot bridge (set up by army).
- Mobile wall built which can rise when needed.
- Flood-prone areas use stone tiles instead of carpets.
- Social media used to spread flood warnings.
- Location
- Causes
- Cumbria had already received a months worth of average rainfall so the soil couldn't absorb as much water.
- Atlantic depression moving north-east over Scotland and Northern England.
- Extreme rainfall - 32cm in just 24 hours.
- Water ran straight down the Lake District hills and rivers over flowing.
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