Morpeth floods

Morpeth- Wansbeck River Basin 

• Extreme low pressure system 
• 6th of september 2008 
• 230% of rainfall normally expected in the whole of september 
• Wansbeck valley is steep and narrow with rapid surface runoff. 
• Soil already saturated from a wet summer 
• Error made from environment agency's flood warning system meant that the middle greens area did not get a warning. 
• Delivery of sandbags too late 
• Pleasure boats were supposed to be used as rescue boats were already flooded. 

• One thousand properties affected
• 90 businesses flooded. 
• Property damage £40 million
• 400 residents evacuated 
• High ford wier destroyed 

• Fire fighters, ambulances, RAF, RNLI.
• Morpeth flood disaster fund raised over £20,000
• Environment agency working with the Northumberland Country Council to develop a scheme to reduce flooding risks in Morpeth. 
• This encloses the building of a large dam of the Mitford Estate to hold water further upstream. 
• Repairing and strengthening of culverts