Water on the Land

16th August 2004

Causes:

• Freak rainstorm causing 8in of rain in one day
• Rainfall poured down the steep-vallied slopes and swelled the River Valency 
• Storm was localised so was hard to predict

Effects:

• River Valency discharged 500cm3 of water-the same as the River Thames at high tide
• 58 buildings were flooded
  
• 25 buildings were swept away
• 84 cars swept away
• £15 million worth of damage
• many were traumastised by the event and increased levels of stress
  

Responses:

• Evacuation of the town
• Rescue helicopters went to save people who made their ways onto the tops of houses
• No one died
• Air rescue helicopters came to help 
• Buildings were dried out by dehumidifiers and fans
• 2005 saw several businesses open back up

Planning for the future:

• Satellites and radar now used to help keep track of developments and warnings of future floods
• Warnings now issued in Boscastle area
• Met Office established a traffic light warning system-yellow for 'be aware', amber for 'be prepared' and red to 'take action'
• Early warnings given out when 60% confident 
• Flash flood warnings given out when 80% positive
• Dedicated telephone lines now made-Floodline and Environment Agency's website has info

July-September 2004

Causes:

• Moonsoon Climate-period of high rainfall and snow causing soil to be saturated 
• spring snow melt in Himalays increased water levels
• Rivers silt up due to increased soil erosion
• 80% of Bangladesh population live on floodplains
• Poorly maintained levées 
• Urbanisation on floodplains-increasing surface-run off

Effects:

• Two-thirds of land covered by flood
• Dhaka (capital) 2 metres underwater
• 30 million people homless
• 750 died
• 60% submerged underwater
• Poor health and contamination 
• lack of clean water supplies and 20% decrease in production

Responses:

• Boats rescued people
• Emergency supplies of food, water, tents and supplies
• Fodder for livestock (food)
• repair and rebuilding of houses and services
• $74million sent by the UN

Planning for the future:

• Reduction in deforesation in Nepal and Himalayas
• 7 large dams costing $30-40million and 40 years to complete
• created water flood, storage areas
• developed Flood Warning system
• built 350km enbankment-7 metres high at a cost of $6 billion 
• built 5000 flood shelters to house future flood victims