What Were The Effects Of The Cumbria Floods 2009?. Rivers were significantly altered with increased rates of erosion.
How bad was the flood in Cumbria in 2009?
However, what Cumbria experienced was probably more like a one-in-1000 years flood. The Environment Agency said that a record amount of 12.3 inches of rain fell in the 24 hours from November 19 to 20. November 2009 proved to be the wettest on record for the whole of the UK since 1914 with Cumbria one of the worst places affected.
What happened in the Cockermouth floods?
Image caption Main Street in Cockermouth on the afternoon of the floods. In November 2009 an entire town and community in Cumbria was left devastated. Unprecedented rainfall caused rivers and streams to spill into hundreds of homes and businesses.
What has Prince Charles said about the flooding in Cumbria?
On 27 November, The Prince of Wales visited the areas of Cumbria affected by the flooding, where he expressed "nothing but the greatest possible sympathy" for the victims of the flooding. On 21 December, President Mary McAleese embarked on a two-day visit of flooded areas, praising the "utterly selfless" acts of those who were assisting.
How did the community cope with the floods of 2009?
Clothes banks, support clinics and action groups were set up as the community struggled to cope with the physical and emotional effects of the floods. Sue Cashmore's home was flooded for the third time in 2009, leaving her, her two daughters, two dogs and her cat stranded on the first floor of their home on Gote Road for about 17 hours.
How much rain fell in Cockermouth in 2009?
Why is it important to alert people to flood risk?
What is flood prevention?
Why did warm air from the mid-Atlantic move towards land?
Is weather in the UK becoming more extreme?
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What were the effects of the Cockermouth flood in 2009?
According to Cumbria County Council, the county's tourism businesses lost an estimated £2.5m due to the floods. A survey by Cumbria Tourism found that 72% of tourist businesses across the county suffered some negative impact because of the floods and 6% of tourist business closed down completely.
What are the effects of the flood?
Loss of lives and property: Immediate impacts of flooding include loss of human life, damage to property, destruction of crops, loss of livestock, non-functioning of infrastructure facilities and deterioration of health condition owing to waterborne diseases.
What were the effects of the flood in Cumbria 2015?
The scale of flooding in December 2015 was unprecedented in Cumbria. In total 7,465 properties were flooded equating to an estimated 14,694 persons. Carlisle district shows a higher proportion of households flooded in more deprived areas.
What flood caused the most deaths?
ListDeath tollEventLocation229,0001975 Banqiao Dam failure and floodsChina145,0001935 Yangtze floodChina(up to) 100,000The flood of 1099Netherlands & Englandup to 100,0001911 Yangtze river floodChina106 more rows
What are causes and effects of floods?
The sudden melting of snow and ice produce river and lake floods. Flash floods are caused by too much rain in the mountains and in cities. Flash floods happen when heavy rain causes a lot of water to gather in a narrow space. The effect of flooding on the value of property will cause real estate to plummet in a city.
What are positive and negative effects of flooding?
Effects of flooding can be both positive and negative. For millennia, people have settled near rivers and lakes because water is easily accessible and the soil is fertile. Back in the days though, people constructed on higher grounds allowing riverine floods to enrich the land with nutrients.
What caused the Cumbrian floods 2009?
Warm air from the mid-Atlantic moved towards land due to the prevailing wind. The warm air was forced upwards by the Cumbrian Mountains. As the air cooled, it condensed to form heavy rain.
When did the Cumbria floods happen?
Thousands of homes were left flooded or left without power after Storm Desmond wreaked havoc in parts of the UK on the 5th and 6th of December 2015.
When were the Cumbria floods?
Severe flooding took place in Cumbria in 2015. Around 50,000 homes were affected, causing damage estimated to cost £500 million. After 2015, the council spent £2.6 billion on flood defence schemes to protect the region from future flooding. In October 2021, only 43 properties were flooded.
What was the worst flood ever in history?
1931 Yangtze River Flood Considered to be one of the worst natural disasters in human history, the great Yangtze River flood of 1931 was one of the deadliest single events of all time.
What are the 10 worst floods in history?
Full ListMississippi River, 1927.Ohio River, 1937.Mississippi River, 1993.Hurricane Katrina, 2005.Big Thompson Canyon, Colorado, 1976.Rapid City, S.D., 1972.Galveston, Texas, 1900.Johnstown, Pa., 1889.More items...
What was the first flood in the world?
Perhaps the oldest flood story is one of the earliest stories known to man, The Epic of Gilgamesh. Recorded on 12 stone tablets this is among the first pieces of literature in history. According to the poem, Gilgamesh was a Sumerian king who reigned for 126 years.
What are the effects of floods on environment?
Impact of flooding on the environment wildlife habitats can be destroyed by floodwater. contaminated floodwater can pollute rivers and habitats. silt and sediment can destroy crops on farms. river banks and natural levées can be eliminated as rivers reach bankfull capacity.
What are 5 causes of floods?
Causes of FloodsMassive Rainfall. Drainage systems and the effective infrastructure design aid during heavy rains. ... Overflowing of the Rivers. ... Collapsed Dams. ... Snowmelt. ... Deforestation. ... Climate change. ... Emission of Greenhouse Gases. ... Other Factors.
What are the effects of floods for kids?
They can move themselves and some of their property to higher ground, or build barriers to keep the water out of their homes. Sometimes the water rises quickly and people and cars get caught in the flood. Water gets into buildings causing damage, things are washed away, and people have to leave their homes.
How do floods affect humans?
Harmful impacts of floods include direct mortality and morbidity and indirect displacement and widespread damage of crops, infrastructure and property. Immediate causes of death in floods include drowning and trauma or injury 1 , 8.
How much rain fell in Cockermouth in 2009?
In November 2009, over 31 cm of rain fell in a 24-hour period. This is a record amount of daily rainfall for the UK. This led to the flooding of the town of Cockermouth.
Why is it important to alert people to flood risk?
Alerting people to the risk of potential flooding enables the public to evacuate the area, reducing injuries and deaths. Economic losses can also be reduced as people and businesses can move their valuables to a safer area.
What is flood prevention?
A flood prevention scheme has been implemented which includes a variety of river management schemes. River dredging was used to increase the capacity of the river channel so it could hold more water in the future.
Why did warm air from the mid-Atlantic move towards land?
Warm air from the mid-Atlantic moved towards land due to the prevailing wind.
Is weather in the UK becoming more extreme?
Depressions and anticyclones determine the weather in the UK. The most common weather is rainfall. The effects of prolonged heavy rainfall can lead to many negative impacts on people.
What were the effects of the flood in Cumbria 2015?
Over 43,000 homes across Cumbria and Lancashire suffered from power cuts. Approximately 5,200 homes were affected by flooding. One person died in Cumbria. About 40 schools closed in Cumbria.
What caused the flood in Cumbria 2009?
European windstorms bringing heavy rain and gale-force winds caused damage and flooding to the south of Great Britain on 13–14 November. Unsettled weather continued across the south and later to the north. On 19–20 November, many towns and villages in Cumbria and Dumfries and Galloway were affected.
How much did the Cumbria floods cost?
More than £1 million of damage was caused in Cumbria by the latest bout of flooding. Councillor Keith Little, the county’s transport chief, reported on the toll taken in the area when Cumbria County Council met at Carlisle Racecourse this week.
How many homes were flooded in Cumbria?
A total of 43 properties were flooded when more than 12in (30cm) of rain fell in a 24-hour period – the third highest accumulation of rain since 1994. However, more than 1,440 were directly protected thanks to the defences.
What happened in Cumbria December 2015?
The scale of flooding in December 2015 was unprecedented in Cumbria. In total 7,465 properties were flooded equating to an estimated 14,694 persons. Carlisle district shows a higher proportion of households flooded in more deprived areas.
How did storm Desmond affect the environment?
Desmond directed a plume of moist air, known as an atmospheric river, which brought record amounts of rainfall to upland areas of the UK and subsequent major floods. … Storm Desmond deposited an unusually large amount of rain on ground already saturated by heavy rain, causing widespread flooding.
What were the impacts of the Cockermouth floods?
Flooding severely impacts human populations, accounting for an estimated 157,000 deaths and combined loss of 1891 billion US$ worldwide from 1994-2015 [1].
How many homes were flooded in Cumbria in 2015?
In 2015, more than 50,000 homes in Cumbria were flooded or had severe impacts from flooding. While the loss of life was relatively small, the damage to local people is still being felt in many areas. Similarly, floods in 2009 left thousands of people displaced from their homes, which took years to be resolved. ...
When was the worst flood in Cumbria?
Floods in 2009 and 2015 were worst in Cumbria for centuries – study | Flooding | The Guardian
What is the unprecedented nature of the recent phase of extreme floods?
He added: “The unprecedented nature of the recent phase of extreme floods accords with statements from the Environment Agency that climate changes and associated impacts on the frequency and magnitude of extreme events are one of the greatest challenges facing our society.”
When were the floods in the UK?
Floods in the region in 2009 and 2015 – the latter the result of Storm Desmond– grabbed the headlines at the time, but are increasingly being linked to evidence of the UK’s vulnerability to the climate emergency. The new analysis shows that the most recent floods were unprecedented in key respects.
Why does flooding leave sediment?
Flooding leaves much coarser sediment than normal deposits, because it washes in large amounts of material from the surrounding hills and streams. That left researchers with a much easier task in sorting out which layers came from particular events.
How many homes were affected by the Cumbrian floods?
In all, more than 1,300 homes were affected by the flooding and at one stage at least 5,000 properties were left without power.
What river was flooded in Cumbria?
Continuing rain meant that by lunchtime, water was beginning to spill over from the River Eden , one of the major rivers in the area, causing partial flooding. Cumbria was again warned of more heavy rain to follow that afternoon with the entire county being placed under a flood watch alert.
What was the wettest year in the UK?
November 2009 proved to be the wettest on record for the whole of the UK since 1914 with Cumbria one of the worst places affected. Nearly every area of the country recorded rainfall significantly higher than average with some places suffering from more than twice their normal rainfall.
How many bridges were closed in Cumbria?
The town of Workington became divided by the River Derwent as its last standing bridge was closed over safety concerns. Six bridges collapsed with all 1,800 bridges in Cumbria requiring an urgent safety review to assess the extent of the damage caused by the flood waters. Sixteen bridges were closed, as well as 25 roads and 18 schools with many businesses cut off completely.
Where is Cumbria in England?
Cumbria, also known as The Lake District, is a small county in the north of England, situated just below the borders of Scotland. Apart from the attraction of its beautiful hills and lakes, it also has the dubious reputation of being the wettest place in England. Despite this, nothing could have prepared Cumbria for the devastating floods that brought death and destruction in November 2009.
Was Cumbria prepared for the 2009 flood?
While we can always learn from hindsight, and indeed Cumbria thought it was well prepared after suffering from previous floods, it seems nothing can safeguard us against the devastating forces of nature when she wreaks her full fury on us. The residents of Cumbria may well hope that the flood of 2009 was their one-in-1000 years flood and that they won’t have to endure such destruction again during their lifetime.
How much money did Cumbria lose due to the floods?
According to Cumbria County Council, the county's tourism businesses lost an estimated £2.5m due to the floods.
Why are flood gates built along the Cocker and Derwent rivers?
The Environment Agency has built walls, embankments and flood gates along the Cocker and Derwent rivers to help protect 360 vulnerable homes and 55 businesses prone to taking in water.
What caused rivers and streams to spill into hundreds of homes and businesses?
Unprecedented rainfall caused rivers and streams to spill into hundreds of homes and businesses.
When did Sue Cashmore's house flood?
Sue Cashmore's home was flooded for the third time in 2009, leaving her, her two daughters, two dogs and her cat stranded on the first floor of their home on Gote Road for about 17 hours.
Where did the floods happen in Lancashire?
In Lancashire, firefighters had to rescue schoolchildren trapped in a bus stranded by floodwater at Sawley, and flooding occurred in Barnoldswick, Blackburn, Burnley and Rossendale. Workers at Kippax Mill in Crawshawbooth were evacuated when the building was hit by a landslide as the hill collapsed under the weight of water.
When did the floods in Ireland happen?
Ireland's flooding shifted to the east of the country on 29 November. Dublin 's River Liffey burst its banks on 29 November, flooding several areas. Towns in County Kildare which were near the Liffey, were damaged by floods, including Ballymore Eustace, Kilcullen, Newbridge, Clane, Celbridge, Naas and Leixlip.
How many people were rescued from the floods in Cockermouth?
Many properties were flooded in Ambleside, leaving the main road impassable for most vehicles. Over 200 people in Cockermouth were rescued from their homes by the emergency services. About 75 people were accommodated overnight in Cockermouth School and the Shepherds Hotel (known locally as the Sheep & Wool Centre). Search and rescue helicopters from RAF Valley, RAF Boulmer and RAF Leconfield rescued approximately 50 people, with the remainder being rescued by boat, particularly by the RNLI, and HM Coastguard. A Coastguard helicopter was deployed to the area from Stornoway to supplement the military SAR assets. Water levels in the town centre were reported to be as high as 2.50 metres (8 ft 2 in), resulting in the collapse of Lorton Bridge, and over 1,200 properties losing their electricity supply. Coniston Water burst its banks and submerged roads, fields and local premises. Electricity supply was lost to 349 properties in Keswick. About 50 people were accommodated overnight in Keswick's Convention Centre, as well as the Skiddaw Hotel and St Joseph's School. Several homes were also flooded in the town after the River Greta burst its banks, rising 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) above normal.
How many homes in Ireland have been left without water?
Thousands of homes across the country were left with boiled-water notices, and over 40,000 homes were left without any water supply. In Cork City, over 18,000 homes on the city's north and inner south-sides were left without water for up to ten days. This was as a result of flood damage to the city's water treatment plant. The Irish Army was deployed to deal with rising floodwaters at Ennis, County Clare and Clonmel, County Tipperary. Electricity supplies were cut off in Bandon, Cork and east County Galway. The house of one old lady in Athlone was even reported to have been the victim of flooding. A lorry driver had to be lifted from his vehicle in County Roscommon after it became struck in water beneath a bridge.
What happened in Northern Ireland on November 4th?
In Northern Ireland, villages near the County Tyrone - County Londonderry border were hit by heavy rainfall the night of 4 November causing several families to be evacuated, and more than a dozen homes flooded.
What city in Ireland was flooded?
Among the many places severely flooded was the Republic of Ireland's second largest city, Cork. For more than ten days, 40 per cent of its population were without running water after a treatment plant was affected by several metres of flood water.
What was the worst area of Great Britain?
The worst affected area in Great Britain was the English county of Cumbria. The Irish counties of Clare, Cork, Galway and Westmeath were among the worst affected areas of Ireland. European windstorms bringing heavy rain and gale-force winds caused damage and flooding to the south of Great Britain on 13–14 November.
What caused the Cumbrian floods?
The Cumbrian floods in late 2009 were caused by a combination of excessive rainfall, urbanisation and inadequate flood defences. Prior to the event, areas in the north of England and Scotland had already received the full average amount of rainfall for November; with the ground already saturated, record amounts fell over a 72 hour period at the end of the month, causing record high flood surges and millions of pounds worth of damage as a result. Some have blamed global warming for the record rainfall levels though whether this is actually true is unclear.
How much rain did Seathwaite receive in 2009?
Some areas of high ground received around 400mm in 72 hours, while Seathwaite received over 300mm in just one day.
How much rain fell in Cockermouth in 2009?
In November 2009, over 31 cm of rain fell in a 24-hour period. This is a record amount of daily rainfall for the UK. This led to the flooding of the town of Cockermouth.
Why is it important to alert people to flood risk?
Alerting people to the risk of potential flooding enables the public to evacuate the area, reducing injuries and deaths. Economic losses can also be reduced as people and businesses can move their valuables to a safer area.
What is flood prevention?
A flood prevention scheme has been implemented which includes a variety of river management schemes. River dredging was used to increase the capacity of the river channel so it could hold more water in the future.
Why did warm air from the mid-Atlantic move towards land?
Warm air from the mid-Atlantic moved towards land due to the prevailing wind.
Is weather in the UK becoming more extreme?
Depressions and anticyclones determine the weather in the UK. The most common weather is rainfall. The effects of prolonged heavy rainfall can lead to many negative impacts on people.
