The arches on the bridges across the River Derwent, near Cockermouth did not have enough cross sectional area to allow floodwater through the bridge
caused flood water to build up in front of the bridge, leading to bursting the banks of the river
the previous year, the residents of Cockermouth asked for the river to be dredged by 3.5m
UK record 3.14mm of rain fell in Cumbria over 24hrs between 19-20 November
water levels reached 2.5m which is above normal
Cockermouth is at the bottom of hills
the flood water rose rapidly in Cockermouth it rose 1m in less than 20 minutes
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Primary Effects
train services on the West Coast Main Line were suspended for a short while after a landslide between Carlisle and Penrith
40 waste treatment works were put out of action, but were back in service after 3 days
6 bridges collapsed
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Secondary Effects
Insurance claims reached £100 million
95% businesses in Cockermouth family run, so no income for these families
1300 homes evacuated
PC Bill Barker killed, directing traffic on Northside Bridge over River Derwent when it collapsed
1000 homes left without power
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Immediate Response
20,000 flood defence bags handed out to people in Cockermouth and Keswick
two severe flood warnings for Cockermouth had been sent by text, phone and fax
104 people spent Friday 20th November at the Cockermouth Sheep and Wool Centre
used as an evacuation centre
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Long Term Responses
all 1800 bridges in Cumbria had a safety review carried out
after the floods in 1999 and 2005 the Environmental Agency spent £600,000 on new flood defences and another £100,000 in 2005
Gordon Brown pledged £1m for flooded communities in Cockermouth which was less than £1000 per family/household
22nd November, the Environmental Agency checked and repaired flood defences, reservoirs, monitored river levels and cleared debris from the drainage gates and kept a close watch on the potential impact of rainfall
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