Boscastle, England 2004 Flooding in MEDC Case Study

Long term responses: · The river bed of the River Valency is being widened · North Cornwall council gave £4.5 million for flood defences- including moving a bridge which clogged the river · Repairing buildings commenced straight away in time for the 2005 tourist season · Dead trees were removed from the river

Boscastle, England 2004 Flooding (MEDC)

Causes:· Over 60 mm of rainfall (typically a month's rainfall) fell in two hours.· The ground was already saturated due to the previous two weeks of above average rainfall.· The drainage basin has many steep slopes, and has areas of impermeable slate causing rapid surface run-off.· Boscastle is at the confluence (where tributaries meet) of three rivers - Valency, Jordan, and Paradise. A large quantity of water all arrived within a short space of time causing the rivers to overflow.· The flooding coincided with a high tide, making the impact worse.

Primary effects:· 58 properties were flooded· 4 businesses were demolished· 50 cars were lost· People were trapped in buildings

Secondary effects:· Loss of tourism for the 2004 season· People couldn’t return home for 6 months, so there was psychological trauma· The flood cost insurance companies £15 million· Future house insurance was much higher in the area

Immediate responses:· Military helicopters airlifted 150 people to safety· Emergency centres opened in nearby villages· 50 people were evacuated to Camelford Leisure centre· Fire, police and ambulance services also involved· Teams searched for missing people in the harbour