Flooding in Boscastle-2004
Boscastle is located on Cornwall's north coast.From the nineteen centry,the touism began to grow.Tourism accounts for 90%of its economy.Summer is always the busiest time of year in Boscastle.
On 16 August 2004,Boscastle experienced one of the worst flooding in UK. 58 properties were flooded. Around 1000residents and visitors were affected.But fortunately,no-one died in the event.
On 16 August 2004,Boscastle experienced one of the worst flooding in UK. 58 properties were flooded. Around 1000residents and visitors were affected.But fortunately,no-one died in the event.
Causes of the flood
Boscastle stands on a confluence of three rivers ,Valency,Jordan and Paradise. The flood was caused by a huge downpour of rain. 89mm of rain was recorded within an hour. Heavy rain caused by extreme fronctal activity. The rain fell for approximately five hours. This huge amount of rain caused river levels to rise by 2 metres within one hour.The entire town of Boscastle was devastated by a wall of water that was 10 feet high, flowing at the speed of 40 miles an hour.
It has a narrow river channel in the village itself.The natural channel had been walled so the rivercouldnt adjust to the sudden increase in water.The river channel's capacity had been reduced due to the development of a road and a car park next to the river.
Also, Boscastle is in the middle of anarrow,steep v-shaped valley.The ground were made of shale and clay oil,which is not efficient for the water to be absorbed by the ground.At the time of the flood, the tide was high, and they wasn't any type of flood defenses.
It has a narrow river channel in the village itself.The natural channel had been walled so the rivercouldnt adjust to the sudden increase in water.The river channel's capacity had been reduced due to the development of a road and a car park next to the river.
Also, Boscastle is in the middle of anarrow,steep v-shaped valley.The ground were made of shale and clay oil,which is not efficient for the water to be absorbed by the ground.At the time of the flood, the tide was high, and they wasn't any type of flood defenses.
Effects of the flood
Economy impact
* Tourism was badly effected. 2/3's of Boscastle yearly tourism business is done in the summer holiday which was when it happened.
* Damage to buildings and services was estimated at £2 million.
*Cars , boats and campervans were flooded. 4 houses and 32 cars were swept out to the sea.
*There was serious damage to Boscastle's infrastructure-water,power and phone services were cut and roads were badly damage, making the emergency access difficult.
*Many great and important buildings were destroyed by it, including the museum of Witchcraft. All the buildings and areas of Boscastle that were destroyed are estimated to have added up to millions of pounds.
environmental impacts
*plants and amimal died out,causing a damage to local wildlife.
*Wild life's living space were polluted,coverd with muds and garbages.
*Coastal pollution caused as debris andfuel from cars flowing out to the sea.
*The flooded land may benifit from the muds became more fertile.
sociol impacts
*long term stress and anxiety to people traumatised by the incident.
*It cost the insurence companies thousands of pounds to pay to people who had their house damaged.It is very likely for the people lining in flood risk areas would have to pay more for the insurence.
* Tourism was badly effected. 2/3's of Boscastle yearly tourism business is done in the summer holiday which was when it happened.
* Damage to buildings and services was estimated at £2 million.
*Cars , boats and campervans were flooded. 4 houses and 32 cars were swept out to the sea.
*There was serious damage to Boscastle's infrastructure-water,power and phone services were cut and roads were badly damage, making the emergency access difficult.
*Many great and important buildings were destroyed by it, including the museum of Witchcraft. All the buildings and areas of Boscastle that were destroyed are estimated to have added up to millions of pounds.
environmental impacts
*plants and amimal died out,causing a damage to local wildlife.
*Wild life's living space were polluted,coverd with muds and garbages.
*Coastal pollution caused as debris andfuel from cars flowing out to the sea.
*The flooded land may benifit from the muds became more fertile.
sociol impacts
*long term stress and anxiety to people traumatised by the incident.
*It cost the insurence companies thousands of pounds to pay to people who had their house damaged.It is very likely for the people lining in flood risk areas would have to pay more for the insurence.
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