Boscastle Floods : 2004

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Boscastle Floods 2004
By Chris Burgess
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Turned Out To Be Something Completly Different
Than Usuall......
A Nice Early Morning In Boscastle In the Summer
of Last Year...
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(No Transcript)
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A Brief Background
Situated in the South East of the UK, and the
North of Cornwall Boscastle is home to nearly
2000 people and attracts 1.2 Million people per
year. After August 2004, the attraction just
disappeared in a flood of changes. The village
that is no more than 5 miles long suffered
changes that would last a life time.
The aerial map on the right shows various points
of interest in the village of Boscastle, 1-7.
(Not many I know). The darker shaded area of the
map shows where the floods caused most damage.
These areas are at the base of the river valley.
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The Main Causes Of The Flood
Heavy rainfall had persisted for many days before
the floods. The rainfall had collected for days
in the boggy marshes around the valley of
Boscastle. As the sponges became so full they
finally let out when the storms on the Monday
morning arrived. From the normal trickle river to
huge raging torrents only 4 hours later.
Valley slopes like sponges
Water entering the river from the slopes
Large Rocks symbolize the start of the river
Another amazing picture drawn by Me
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The Main Causes Of The Flood 2
As so much water was entering the river source,
water levels began to increase very rapidly.
This then became a rapid torrent. The waves of
flood water could not be contained in the banks
of the river so it flooded. Firstly taking the
bridge and then the road and finally everything
in its path. Including poor Mr Kittens
Villagers raise stink over sewage
Unfortunately he didnt go out with a flush
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The Main Causes Of The Flood 3

• Natural causes of the floods were
• Narrow valley with interlocking spurs
• 185mm Of rainfall in 5 hours
• Steep valley sides that encourage rapid runoff
• Human Factors were
• Village developed on flat land of floodplain
• Natural channel of river has being walled
  preventing it from adjusting to variations in
  discharge.

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Short Term Effects

• The short term effects of the flooding are
• People are homeless and have no access to money
  within a week of the flood
• Damage caused by river to cars and peoples other
  belongings, also includes their homes
• Financial difficulties, as will take a long time
  for the insurance companies to pay for the damage
  caused.

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Long Term Effects

• The long term effects of the Boscastle floods
  are
• The pain and anguish of the flood in 2004 may
  still effect people who lost their homes or
  treasured processions
• Fear of more freak floods
• The reputation of the village for being a Nice
  place for a walk has being lost as people are
  scared of freak weather changes.
• It will take a long period of time to regain the
  industries in the area, such as the local shops,
  tourists are 80 of their customers, now that
  will change to a small proportion.

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What Developments have been completed

• In the village of Boscastle more people have
  turned up to help the clean up situation, making
  all the operations happen a lot more quickly.
• The environment agency are building flood defuses
  at the source and at the river base in Boscastle.
• They are also building the river channels deeper
  and wider.
• Insurance companies have finally paid out at 5.4
  mil
• Peoples belongings have being returned and the
  less damaged buildings have now being completely
  rebuilt and furnished

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Made By Chris Thought About by Chris Amazed by
Chris Yes It was BY CHRIS Burgess