Boscastle, England 2004 Flooding in MEDC Case Study

Causes:

· Dead trees blocked the river channel

· Heavy rainfall continuously

· Remains of Hurricane Alex from Atlantic Ocean

· Bodmin Moor nearby, impermeable surface = lots of run off

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

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

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AQA GCSE Physical Geography Water on the land Boscastle Flooding in MEDC Case Study