What were the physical causes of Boscastle flood?
What were the physical causes of Boscastle flood? It happened at high tide. The steepness of the valley accelerated the rainwater falling on the hills as it travelled down to the valley floor where Boscastle lies. Hard impermeable surfaces increased bsurface run-off.
What were the effects of Boscastle flood?
- Early 2005: Most shops and restaurants re-open
- Boscastle power system renewed
- Water supply restored
- Food supply restored
- The flood defences were increased
- Defences improved strongly
- Rebuilding and repairs are mostly finished
What places were affected by Boscastle flood?
Boscastle Flood Red Box Case Study Location and Dates On Monday 16 August 2004 a devastating flood hit the two towns of Boscastle and Crackington Haven, Cornwall. Boscastle with a population of only 888 was a thriving fishing village near the South West Coast of England. The flood destroyed most of the town and caused a decrease in the ...
Why did the flood in Boscastle happen?
Why did the Boscastle flood 2004 happen? A lack of flood protection and old, small drainage systems which were insufficient to cope with the flow. Trees and vehicles blocked the river channel, particularly under a bridge in the centre of Boscastle, see Figure 6, which led to the river bursting its banks and further flooding in nearby properties.
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How much rainfall did Boscastle get in a period of two hours just before the 2004 flash flood?
Causes of the flood 185 mm (7 inches) of rain fell over the high ground just inland of Boscastle. At the peak of the downpour, at about 15:40 GMT, 24.1mm of rain (almost one inch) was recorded as falling in just 15 minutes at Lesnewth, 2.5 miles (4 km) up the valley from Boscastle.
What effects did the Boscastle flood have?
Cars, walls and even bridges were washed away. The church was filled with six feet of mud and water. Trees were uprooted and swept into peoples' gardens. The weight of water eroded river banks, damaged gardens and pavements.
How many cars were washed out to sea in the Boscastle flood?
About 80 cars were washed from the car park through Boscastle in Cornwall by a huge surge of water on 16 August 2004.
How long did it take for Boscastle to recover?
Visit the picturesque harbour village of Boscastle in Cornwall today and you wouldn't guess that on 16 August 2004 this thriving coastal community, which we help to look after, suffered a 1-in-400 year weather event. In 2014, we reflected on the village's dramatic recovery 10 years after the flood.
What were human causes of the Boscastle flood?
Human Causes A lack of flood protection and old, small drainage systems which were insufficient to cope with the flow. Trees and vehicles blocked the river channel, particularly under a bridge in the centre of Boscastle, see Figure 6, which led to the river bursting its banks and further flooding in nearby properties.
How many people were saved in the Boscastle flood?
Helicopters were scrambled from RNAS Culdrose and RMB Chivenor, along with the Cornwall Air Ambulance. During the biggest emergency operation Cornwall had experienced for decades, 120 local residents and holidaymakers - from small babies to a man on kidney dialysis - were winched to safety by rescue crews.
How much did Boscastle rebuild cost?
Structural experts have warned that many properties in flood-hit Boscastle, Cornwall, may have to be demolished. The total cost of rebuilding the village could be as much as £500m, according to a former president of the Institution of Structural Engineers.
How many homes were destroyed in the Boscastle flood?
Occurring, bizarrely, fifty-two years to the day after the famous Lynmouth floods, which killed thirty-five people, the Boscastle flood destroyed six buildings, swept fifty cars out to sea, broke up several roads and caused more than sixty people to have to be airlifted to safety by seven hastily-scrambled rescue ...
What was Boscastle like before the flood?
In the days preceding the flood, the whole of the South West of England had experienced stormy weather with heavy rainfall, so the ground was saturated. On the 16th of August, there was heavy rain, 125mm had fallen in Boscastle alone within a few hours. The river levels rising due to high amounts of rainfall.
How were people rescued in the Boscastle flood?
Seven helicopters were flying above rescuing people from rooftops and cars. Buildings were being washed away and cars were careering along a wall of black water completely out of control.
What did Boscastle do to prevent future flooding?
What has Boscastle done to prevent flooding in the future? £4.5 million has been spent on a flood defence scheme. The scheme stretches along the valley, incorporating drainage, sewerage systems and land re-grading.
What were the long term responses to the Boscastle flood?
Shops were rebulit. Cars which had been swept away were removed from the harbour. The car park was raised and given a permeable surface. A drainage culvert was improved to allow more water to flow through.
What were the long term responses to the Boscastle flood?
Shops were rebulit. Cars which had been swept away were removed from the harbour. The car park was raised and given a permeable surface. A drainage culvert was improved to allow more water to flow through.
How did Boscastle recover from the flood?
Boscastle car park has been raised in height, which will stop the river from bursting its banks so easily. New drains allow water to run into the lower section of the river quickly. The river channel has been made deeper and wider so that it can accommodate more water.
What did Boscastle do to prevent future flooding?
Raising the car park and using a permeable surface - this allowed cars to be much higher and so they were less likely to be swept away. Tree management - dead trees were removed to prevent them being swept away, causing blockages under bridges. Land owners were encouraged to maintain vegetation and plant new trees.
What was Boscastle like before the flood?
In the days preceding the flood, the whole of the South West of England had experienced stormy weather with heavy rainfall, so the ground was saturated. On the 16th of August, there was heavy rain, 125mm had fallen in Boscastle alone within a few hours. The river levels rising due to high amounts of rainfall.
When was the Boscastle flood?
The 2004 Boscastle flood ( Cornish: An Lanwes Kastel Boterel 2004) occurred on Monday, 16 August 2004 in the two villages of Boscastle and Crackington Haven in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The villages suffered extensive damage after flash floods caused by an exceptional amount of rain that fell over eight hours that afternoon.
When was the last time Boscastle was hit by a flood?
The last time Boscastle had suffered notable flooding was in 1996 as a result of Hurricane Lili, but floods are recorded in 1847, 1957, on 3 June 1958 (one man drowned) and on 6 February during the Winter of 1962–63 in the United Kingdom.
How much rain did Boscastle get in 60 minutes?
In Boscastle, 89 millimetres (3.5 in) of rain was recorded in 60 minutes. The rain was very localised: Otterham and Lesnewth, both a few miles inland from Boscastle, recorded 24 hour totals of 200 mm and 185 mm respectively on the day, whereas four of the nearest 10 rain gauges showed less than 3 mm of rain in the same period.
Why did they rebuild the culvert at the top of the village?
October: Work started on rebuilding an old culvert at the top of the village, to allow more water to flow through in periods of heavy rain.
Why were the roads closed in Tintagel?
Roads around the Tintagel, Camelford and Davidstow area were closed off to stop people visiting the village. River levels were alarmingly high, but the banks contained the water. However the many culverts of the River Jordan had overflowed onto the villages roads, adding to the amount of water on the roads.
How many cars were damaged in the Westland Sea King?
75 cars, 5 caravans, 6 buildings and several boats were washed into the sea; approximately 100 homes and businesses were destroyed, and some had to be demolished; trees were uprooted and debris were scattered over a large area. In an operation lasting from mid-afternoon until 2:30 am, a fleet of 7 Westland Sea King helicopters rescued about 150 people clinging to trees and the roofs of buildings and cars. No major injuries or loss of life were reported. The estimated cost of damage was £15 million.
Why was the Gateway building stopped?
April: Work stopped on gateway building due to problems with planning permission, and the building being built taller than expected.
When did Boscastle flood?
One of the most devastating floods and peacetime rescue operations took place in the small Cornish village of Boscastle. The village flooded in August 2004, washing cars and buildings into the sea and putting peoples' lives in danger.
What is the drainage basin of Boscastle?
Geology: impermeable slate. The drainage basin has many steep slopes, and has areas of impermeable slate causing rapid surface run-off. Boscastle is at the confluence of three rivers - Valency, Jordan, and Paradise. A large quantity of water arrived within a short space of time causing the rivers to overflow.
How much rain did it rain on August 16th?
A depression brought a thunderstorm on 16 August with over 200mm of rain in 24 hours. Increase in buildings within the drainage basin meant that there were more impermeable surfaces which directed water back to the river faster. Steep valley sides - water flowed into the river channel very quickly.
What river flows through Boscastle?
Boscastle is at the confluence of three rivers - Valency, Jordan, and Paradise. A large quantity of water arrived within a short space of time causing the rivers to overflow.
Where is flooding in drainage basins?
Flooding in drainage basins. Flooding is a major issue in drainage basins in Wales, the UK and around the world. This section will explore what a drainage basin is, what processes operate in a drainage basin and why flooding occurs.
What was the main obstacle to debris transported by the River?
The old road bridges became a major obstacle to debris transported by the river.
When was the Boscastle flash flood?
Cornwall Council posted on Facebook: "On Monday, August 16, 2004, the picturesque tourist village of Boscastle on the North Cornish coast experienced a devastating flash flood, ...
How much money was spent on flood defences in Boscastle?
Following the Boscastle disaster £10 million was spent on new flood defences for the village. The Environment Agency estimates that the flood risk in Boscastle has fallen from about one every 10 years to one every 75, and the defences have kept the rising rivers within bounds on several occasions since, most recently in 2010 and 2012, ...
What was the most extreme flooding in Britain?
Catastrophic flash flooding, later described by the Environment Agency as 'among the most extreme ever recorded in Britain', saw lives in the North Cornwall village changed forever. Just over 14 years ago, freak weather conditions caused exceptionally heavy rain, with five inches falling in just two hours over the Boscastle area, ...
How many people were airlifted to Boscastle?
The seven helicopters sent to Boscastle airlifted 120 people to safety.
Did Cornwall fire stations lose lives?
Various Cornwall fire stations have shared messages on social media to mark the anniversary and recognise that remarkably, no lives were lost.
Overview
Causes of the flood
On the 16th, warm air picking up moisture – due to residual heat from the Atlantic Ocean – travelled towards the South West Cornish coast as prevailing winds. Upon contact with the topographically vertical coast, these winds experienced a strong up-drafting force thus causing internal moisture to reach the atmosphere, and consequently cool as a string of storm clouds. With convergence and coalescence, enhanced moisture levels resulted in heavy rainfall on the a…
Impact of the flood
75 cars, 5 caravans, 6 buildings and several boats were washed into the sea; approximately 100 homes and businesses were destroyed, and some had to be demolished; trees were uprooted and debris were scattered over a large area. In an operation lasting from mid-afternoon until 2:30 am, a fleet of 7 Westland Sea King helicopters rescued about 150 people clinging to trees and the roofs of buildings and cars. No major injuries or loss of life were reported. It was widely reported by ne…
Work since the flood
Most work took place in the winter season (October–May), during the off-season. The carpark was reduced to half capacity (120 spaces) in winter, for works to take place, and then back to 240 spaces in summer.
• August: Buildings searched, buried cars removed from harbour, trees removed, roads cleared, B3263 bridge temporary concrete parapets installed.
The lower bridge
The main structure of the former lower bridge survived the flood, however the stone walls did not, and were washed away. On 1 May 2005, the official reopening of the village, wooden fences were used on the bridge to temporarily replace the stone walls. The bridge used to have a concrete plaque on it saying "This bridge is the private property of the lord of the manor, August 1887". Thi…
Mini flood – 21 June 2007
Boscastle flooded again, although not nearly as badly as the 2004 floods. After an afternoon of intense localised rainfall, and a week of steady rain everyday, a small flood happened on 21 June 2007. 30 mm fell on the area in one hour. Roads had become flooded in the area and in the village, most water came from the saturated fields around the village. Many drains had become blocked. Roads around the Tintagel, Camelford and Davidstow area were closed off to stop people visiting t…
See also
• List of natural disasters in the United Kingdom