cockermouth flood case study gcse

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Saturday 2 april 2016, cockermouth, england case study, cockermouth, england, when: 20-24th november 2009, causes .

• Cockermouth is built on the confluence of two rivers making it susceptible to flooding after heavy rains
• The drains and sewers were inadequate and not designed to cope with high levels of rainwater
• Urbanisation of the town has created more impermeable surfaces which caused rain water to reach rivers quicker resulting in much higher discharge
• The flood damage coincided with reduced budgets meaning that flood defences were inadequately maintained
• The river Cocker/ Derwent rose by over 2.5m 
• Cockermouth is on the confluence of two rivers
• There was a lot of rainfall in early November 
• The land was saturated and the water from earlier Storms went straight into river channels 
• Electricity cut off for over 1,200 people
• Hundreds of local businesses were flooded
• 18 farms were identified as being badly damaged by the floods 
• Train stations flooded
• Looting occurred 
• Bridges were washed away, including some of architectural importance due to them being over 100 years old. This also meant that people had to make huge detours. 
• A large number of people were unable to stay in their homes due to them being flooded. They tried to salvage what they could from their ruined homes. 
• Businesses lost their stock as well as future trade in the run up to Christmas
• 225 local businesses and shops were affected by the high water in the town centre, which in places rose to a level of 3 metres. They were also affected by the huge detours caused by damage to roads and bridges.
• 18 farms were badly damaged by the floods.
• The cost of the flood damage for the whole of Cumbria was at least £275 million and was many millions of pounds for Cockermouth alone. 
• Sewage water was mixed with the river water
• Hundreds of thousands of tonnes of sand and gravel had been deposited on fields alongside the river Cocker
• The floods caused significant erosion and deposition along the the course of the river Cocker. 
• The floods also caused significant damage to roads, bridges, walkways and bridleways. 

Responses  

• Temporary train stations built where stations flooded
• The army built temporary walk ways
• Over 200 people were rescued by the emergency services including the Armed Forces, RNLI, Mountain Rescue and 50 of these people were rescued by RAF helicopter. 
• 20 schools were closed and used as a shelter by those made homeless by the flooding.
• Tesco built a temporary store to serve the local area.
• A flood recovery grants scheme was set up to help local businesses within 4 days after the floods and similar funds were made available to help local residents and farmers. 
• Commercial and residential property need extensive repair due to flood damage. By November 2010, 78 businesses had started trading again with most fully reopened by March 2011
• Many of the roads damaged by the tarmac being ripped away by flood waters and the damaged bridges were repaired and replaced. 
• The Environment agency spent £500,000 on flood protection improvements including higher defence walls, new higher embankments and floodgates. The river Cocker is also to be dredged to help it cope with higher water levels at times of heavy rain. These are to be maintained but with limited funding. 

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Case Study: UK Floods Cockermouth, Cumbria 19th November 2009

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Flooding Case studies GCSE

Cockermouth, UK – Rich Country (MEDC) Picture Causes: Rain A massive downpour of rain (31.4cm), over a 24-hour period triggered the floods that hit Cockermouth and Workington in Cumbria in November 2009

What caused all the rain? The long downpour was caused by a lengthy flow of warm, moist air that came down from the Azores in the mid-Atlantic. This kind of airflow is common in the UK during autumn and winter, and is known as a ‘warm conveyor’. The warmer the air is, the more moisture it can hold.

What else helped to cause the Cumbrian Floods? · The ground was already saturated, so the additional rain flowed as surface run-off straight into the rivers · The steep slopes of the Cumbrian Mountains helped the water to run very rapidly into the rivers · The rivers Derwent and Cocker were already swollen with previous rainfall · Cockermouth is at the confluence of the Derwent and Cocker (i.e. they meet there)

The effects of the flood · Over 1300 homes were flooded and contaminated with sewage · A number of people had to be evacuated, including 50 by helicopter, when the flooding cut off Cockermouth town centre · Many businesses were flooded causing long-term difficulties for the local economy · People were told that they were unlikely to be able to move back into flood-damaged homes for at least a year. The cost of putting right the damage was an average of £28,000 per house · Insurance companies estimated that the final cost of the flood could reach £100 million · Four bridges collapsed and 12 were closed because of flood damage. In Workington, all the bridges were destroyed or so badly damaged that they were declared unsafe – cutting the town in two. People faced a huge round trip to get from one side of the town to the other, using safe bridges · One man died– PC Bill Barker

Responses to the flood · The government provided £1 million to help with the clean-up and repairs and agreed to pay for road and bridge repairs in Cumbria · The Cumbria Flood Recovery Fund was set up to help victims of the flood. It reached £1 million after just 10 days · Network Rail opened a temporary railway station in Workington The ‘Visit Cumbria’ website provided lists of recovery services and trades, and people who could provide emergency accommodation

Management of future floods at Cockermouth £4.4 million pound management scheme New flood defence walls will halt the spread of the river Funding from Government and local contributors River dredged more regularly to deepen the channel New embankments raise the channel height to reduce the likelihood of extra floods New floodgates at the back of houses in Waterloo street

Pakistan, Asia – Poor Country Picture At the end of July 2010 usually heavy monsoon rains in northwest Pakistan caused rivers to flood and burst their banks. The map below shows the huge area of Pakistan affected by flooding. The floodwater slowly moved down the Indus River towards the sea.

Continuing heavy rain hampered the rescue efforts. After visiting Pakistan, the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, said that this disaster was worse than anything he’d ever seen. He described the floods as a slow-moving tsunami.

The effect of the floods · At least 1600 people died · 20 million Pakistanis were affected (over 10% of the population), 6 million needed food aid · Whole villages were swept away, and over 700,000 homes were damaged or destroyed · Hundreds of thousands of Pakistanis were displaced, and many suffered from malnutrition and a lack of clean water · 5000 miles of roads and railways were washed away, along with 1000 bridges · 160,000km2 of land were affected. That’s at least 20% of the country · About 6.5 million acres of crops were washed away in Punjab and Sindh provinces

The responses to the floods · Appeals were immediately launched by international organisation, like the UK’s Disasters Emergency Committee – and the UN – to help Pakistanis hit by the floods · Many charities and aid agencies provided help, including the Red Crescent and Medecins Sans Frontieres · Pakistan’s government also tried to raise money to help the huge number of people affected · But there were complaints that the Pakistan government was slow to respond to the crisis, and that it struggled to cope · Foreign Governments donated millions of dollars, and Saudi Arabia and the USA promised $600 million in flood aid. But many people felt that the richer foreign governments didn’t do enough to help · The UN’s World Food Programme provided crucial food aid. But, by November 2010, they were warning that they might have cut the amount of food handed out, because of a lack of donations from richer countries

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Cockermouth Flood Case Study

• Natural hazards
• Created by: Kia02
• Created on: 04-09-18 21:22
• Relief Rainfall
• Two rivers meet here
• Near to steep mountains
• reducing infiltration causes surface run off
• 39 schools closed
• 1,200 people without electricity
• 1,300 homes flooded & contaminated with sewage
• 12 bridges closed and 4 destroyed
• £1 million cleanup and repairs
• 50 people evacuated
• £10 million flood recovery fund
• Temporary train station, footbridge, library and Tesco
• Locals improve the main street
• £500,000 lottery money helps local environment
• River Derwent dredged to increase size of channel
• £6 million spent on new flood windows

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New GCSE spec Geography UK Floods Case Study Cockermouth 2009 - 3 lesson set

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As case study : cockermouth flooding.

Background and Location

Cockermouth is situated in the Lake District on the confluence between the River Cocker and the River Derwent. Cockermouth is 40km from the coastal town of Morecombe and it has a population of 7,877.

Cockermouth had previously been flooded in 1999 and again in 2005. On 19th November 2009 Seathwaite (Central Lake District) received 316mm of rainfall, the highest amount ever recorded in the UK for a single day. It also set new records for the wettest two, three and four days consecutively. The Met Office suggest that this was a 1-in-100o year event. The 2009 floods affected most of Cumbria, from the Eden Valley in the East to Allerdale in the West.

Causes of the Flood

Human Causes

Urbanisation —the towns such as Cockermouth and Keswick have increased the amount of impermeable surfaces which means that the water gets to the river channel more quickly, increasing discharge. Blocked Sewers —inadequate sewer capacity and blockages caused sewers to back up and caused flooding incidents, for example Elliot Park in Keswick. Dredging —The river had not been dredged for many years which reduced the river’s carrying capacity causing it to burst its banks quicker.

Physical Causes

• During a 7 week spell the jet stream spawned a series of deep Atlantic depressions. This resulted in a prolonged period of stormy wet weather.
• There was a trailing cold front that remained fixed over Cumbria, Southern Scotland and Northern Ireland for 36hours from 19th to 20th November. This drew a conveyor of moist tropical air northwards from the Azores.
• Secondly , anomalous sea surface temperatures around the Azores (2-3°c above average) caused rapid evaporation, filling the air with moisture.
• Finally, the Lakeland Hills squeezed moisture from the air by forcing it aloft.

At Camerton in West Cumbria the average 24 hour flow of the River Derwent on 20th November was 561 cumecs and peaked at 700 Cumecs—20 times greater than the average. The floodwater in town centre at Cockermouth reached a depth of 2.5meters.

• Rapid run-off in response to steep slopes, impermeable rocks, thin soils and sparse vegetation cover.
• High antecedent soil moisture as catchments were already saturated.
• Torrential downpours in the first 3 weeks of November had filled lakes such as Basssenthwaite and Derwentwater to bursting point. Normally the lakes regulate river flows and reduce extremes, but on this occasion water was transferred rapidly into the rivers downstream because the lakes were already full.

Impacts of the flood

Across the county over 2,200 properties were flooded, 4/5 were residential. 3 bridges were completely destroyed and 20 others temporarily closed. Several major roads were impassable due to surface water and landslips (A66, A6, A591 and A592). Small businesses connected to tourism were badly affect with 40% reporting booking cancellations, over one hundred farms were flooded with losses of livestock and extensive sheets of river-deposited gravels and silt covering fields.

Floodwater in Cockermouth reached a depth of 2.5 meters inundating over 900 properties. More than 50 residents were rescued by the emergency services, and emergency relief centres were set up for those forced to evacuate their homes. Cockermouth’s Derwent House GP surgery was flooded and forced to relocate.

The floods damaged two road bridges and destroyed a footbridge in the town. Downstream bridges across the River Derwent at Camerton and Northside collapsed, the latter causing the death of a local policeman PC Bill Barker. Workington’s northern suburbs were cut off from the gown centre as a result, this disrupted transport and peoples daily lives. A second bridge at Workington was badly damaged and was closed to traffic causing a 40 mile diversion. The port of Workington was closed due to river erosion of banks and quays and massive sediment deposition in the harbour.

The £275m cost of the floods

• £124m of damage to commercial property and
• £91m of damage to residential and other properties
• £34m of damage to the country’s transport network
• £7m of damage to the 2 flooded GP surgeries
• £5m spent on grants to support local businesses

Response and Management

The town of Cockermouth now has a flood risk management scheme which has reduced the risk of flooding to more than 400 homes and businesses. The scheme features a 120m wide innovative self-closing flood barrier that rises automatically when the river is in flood (first UK use).

The Speed of Recovery

• Within twelve months of the 2009 floods, Cumbria had made a remarkable recovery and the damaged infrastructure had largely been restored. 17 of the 20 bridges closed in the floods were open to traffic.
• The Environment Agency completed flood defence works at Keswick and Cockermouth.
• Farmers received government financial assistance to remove sand, gravel and other debris left by the floods.
• The government’s Flood Recovery Grant Scheme paid out over £1million to local businesses. By January 2010, 78 of Cockermouth’s 225 businesses were trading from their original premises, and a year after the floods only 30 remained closed.
• Initially bookings were down but tourism quickly bounced back. In the spring and summer of 2010occupancy levels in local hotels and guest houses were near to normal and, despite the challenging economic climate in 2010, visitor numbers in Cumbria as a whole remained stable.
• The Cumbria Recovery Fund provided significant financial help to hundreds of home-owners faced with costly repairs (£774 per household). BY November 2010, 85-90% of residents from Cockermouth’s 691 flood-damaged homes had returned permanently.

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• Flood in Cumbria

Dive into an in-depth exploration of the notable Flood in Cumbria. This detailed guide unpicks the causes, impacts, and long-term implications of multiple flooding events, drawing particular attention to the 2009 and 2015 occurrences. You'll unearth key facts about floods in this region, dig into the role of defence mechanisms, and study both the positive and negative aftermath. Our hope is to not only provide information about past incidents but also to equip you with understanding to better face potential future incidents.

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_____ rain fell during the November 2009 f loods 

What was significant about the rainfall in the town of Seathwaite in 2009?

Following the 2015 Cumbria floods, what positive impacts emerged?

What does the term 'after-effects of a flood' refer to?

What is the definition of flooding?

What were some of the significant long-term effects of the 2015 Cumbria floods?

What are the main causes of flooding in Cumbria?

What were the impacts of the 2009 floods in Cumbria?

What does the physical environment refer to in the context of Cumbria's flooding?

What are the roles of flood defences in Cumbria?

What are some of the environmental impacts of flooding in Cumbria?

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Understanding the Flood in Cumbria

Located in North West England, Cumbria is a predominantly rural county which is renowned for its outstanding natural beauty. With picturesque landscapes, the region is not a stranger to the extremes of nature, often suffering from severe floods . To comprehend these natural disasters , it becomes paramount to thoroughly understand the geographic and meteorological aspects behind them.

Flooding is an overflow of large amounts of water beyond its normal confines, typically over what is dry land. The resulting water damage can devastate communities, destroying homes, businesses, and leading to loss of life.

Review of the 2009 Floods in Cumbria

November 2009 saw Cumbria grappling with the worst floods in its history. The event marked the highest level of rainfall ever recorded in the UK over a 24-hour period - 314.4mm. This particular flood led to the unfortunate loss of a police officer and caused extensive property damage.

In the small town of Cockermouth, the water level in the River Derwent rose so dramatically that it swept away the Northside Bridge. The destruction of infrastructure led to significant isolation for local communities and took months to rebuild.

During the 2009 flood, Cumbria's infrastructure was left in ruins, with more than 1,300 homes affected. The utility services were stretched beyond their limits, with road closures and power outages being reported all across the county.

Key Causes of Flooding in Cumbria

It's important to grasp the main factors contributing to floods in Cumbria. Predominantly, these include heavy rainfall, topography, soil conditions, and human intervention.

• Heavy rainfall: The geography of Cumbria means that it often falls victim to severe Atlantic weather systems.
• Topography: The steep slopes and valleys of the Lake District mean water flows quickly into river systems.
• Soil conditions: The often saturated ground cannot absorb much additional water.
• Human intervention: Urbanisation can lead to greater surface run-off and therefore boost flood risk.

Top Facts about Flooding in Cumbria

In order to recap and summarise, here are some riveting facts about flooding in Cumbria:

Impact of Flooding on the Physical Environment in Cumbria

When discussing the impact of flooding in Cumbria, it’s hard to overlook its drastic effects on the county’s physical environment. With an extensive network of rivers, picturesque valleys, and abundant wildlife, the physical environment in Cumbria is intensely susceptible to the aftermath of flooding.

The physical environment refers to the natural landscape, including physical and geographical features such as rivers, mountains, vegetation, wildlife and climate.

The Role of Flood Defences in Cumbria

Given the regularity and magnitude of floods in Cumbria, effective flood defences play a crucial role in managing and mitigating their impact. These structures and systems are designed to control the flow and size of rising water, reducing its damaging effects.

A prominent flood defence system in Cumbria is the Keswick flood alleviation scheme. This structure, which includes a combination of raised embankments and wall defences, was developed to protect the town from the River Greta's swelling waters.

Flood defences have a multifaceted role:

• They reduce the vulnerability of settlements and infrastructure to floods.
• They decrease the likelihood of human casualties.
• They curtail the financial loss caused by property and agricultural damage.

Although highly beneficial, flood defences aren't perfect solutions. They can sometimes simply displace the problem downstream. In addition, highly engineered structures can have significant environmental impacts, altering habitats and disrupting wildlife.

Analysing the Impact of Flooding in Cumbria on Environment

Examining the effect of flooding on the environment in Cumbria helps understand not just the immediate, but also the long-term changes it brings about. These can range from landscape alteration and soil erosion to adverse effects on wildlife habitats.

An outline of environmental impact:

• Landscape alteration: Flooding can cause dramatic changes in the local landscape due to the force of water and movement of debris.
• Soil erosion: Strong floods can strip fertile topsoil layer, leading to poor soil quality and affecting local agriculture.
• Wildlife disruption: The sudden surge of water can destroy habitats, leading to the displacement or death of local wildlife species.

In-depth Study of the Cumbria Floods 2015

December 2015 bore witness to another catastrophic flood event in Cumbria. Named 'Storm Desmond', this event was characterised by relentless rainfall that led to severe flooding.

Storm Desmond was a vigorous extratropical cyclone and the fourth named storm of the 2015–16 UK and Ireland windstorm season. It brought record amounts of rainfall primarily to regions of northern England.

Storm Desmond had stern repercussions, including power cuts that affected tens of thousands of homes, widespread disruption to transport, and extensive damage to infrastructure. Furthermore, rare historic artefacts stored in the basement of Carlisle's Castle Museum were severely damaged by the floodwaters.

After Effects and Transformation Post Cumbria Floods

The aftermath of the Cumbria floods extends beyond immediate property damage and displacement of residents. Lasting changes in infrastructure, the local environment, and community resilience define the legacy of these natural disasters . Understanding the scale and nature of these transformations provides crucial insights into adapting and preparing for future flooding events.

Understanding the Cumbria Floods 2015 and its After-Effects

December 2015's Storm Desmond will be remembered as one of the most destructive flood events in Cumbria's history. However, to fully comprehend its long-lasting effects, it's important to delve deep into the transformations brought forth from the floodwaters.

After-effects of a flood refer to the consequences, both immediate and long-term, that are experienced by natural and human systems once floodwaters have receded. This can encompass changes to the physical environment, economic loss, infrastructure damage, and community trauma.

The 2015 Cumbria floods made an indelible mark:

• The flood led to widespread property damage, which required extensive reconstruction in its wake.
• Local infrastructure suffered, with many roads and bridges destroyed or severely damaged, requiring months to years for complete restoration.
• Significant environmental impact was seen in the form of eroded soils and compromised wildlife habitats.

The Long-Term Implications of the Cumbria Floods 2015

The floods of 2015 had far-reaching implications for Cumbria, impacting not just the environment and infrastructure, but also the region's economy and community dynamics.

Long-term implications of a flood event extend beyond immediate damage to property or resources. They include ongoing economic hardship, changes in land use, changes in community structure, and influencing future policy concerning flood defence and management.

Here are some of the significant long-term effects of the 2015 Cumbria floods:

• Communities were significantly affected with many residents wrestling with the psychological trauma of the event long after the waters subsided.
• The floods' economic toll was significant, with enormous costs associated with repairs, insurance payouts, and loss of business.
• Policy change and increased investment around flood defences and flood prevention strategies have become more prominent.

The 2015 Cumbria floods urged a recalibration of flood management strategies. Significant resources were directed towards better understanding the local topography, climate, urban development, and infrastructure – insights that are now guiding how Cumbria prepares for and responds to catastrophic flood events.

Positive and Negative Impacts of Cumbria Floods

The aftermath of Cumbria's floods presented both challenges and opportunities, encapsulating both the harsh reality of natural disasters as well as the resilience of the affected communities.

The positive impact of a flood sounds counterintuitive but can contribute to community solidarity, generation of employment in the reconstruction phase, and improvements in flood defences for future events. In contrast, the negative impacts are widely known, such as damage to property, loss of life, psychological trauma, and economic hardship.

• Negative Impacts: Major repercussions such as damage to homes, personal injury, psychological trauma, financial hardship, environmental degradation and community displacement rank among the negative impacts.
• Positive Impacts: On the brighter side, floods also sparked community solidarity, increased employment in reconstruction, and improved flood defences and preparedness for future events.

Flood In Cumbria - Key takeaways

• Flooding in Cumbria refers to the overflow of large amounts of water beyond normal confines, often causing devastation to communities, infrastructure, and leading to loss of life.
• Key causes of flooding in Cumbria include heavy rainfall, topography, soil conditions, and human intervention, often leading to significant destruction and isolation of communities. The 2009 floods were notably damaging.
• The impact of flooding on the physical environment entails dramatic landscape changes, soil erosion, and disruption to wildlife habitats. Flood defences in Cumbria aim minimize this impact, though they can also cause environmental disruptions.
• The Cumbria floods in 2015, initiated by 'Storm Desmond', led to widespread flooding and significant damage in the region, affecting communities, infrastructure, and the environment.
• The aftermath of Cumbria floods has both positive and negative impacts, encompassing property damage, community trauma, economic hardship, as well as improved community resilience, increased employment in reconstruction, and advancements in flood defences and preparedness.

Flashcards in Flood in Cumbria 13

In 2009, the town of Seathwaite in Cumbria recorded the highest rainfall in the UK over a 24-hour period.

Post-flood impacts included increased community solidarity, generation of employment during the reconstruction phase, and improvements in flood defences and preparedness for future events.

After-effects of a flood refer to both immediate and long-term consequences experienced by natural and human systems once floodwaters have receded, such as changes to the physical environment, economic loss, infrastructure damage, and community trauma.

Flooding is an overflow of large amounts of water beyond its normal confines, commonly affecting areas of dry land. It can cause extensive damage to communities, destroying homes and businesses, and potentially leading to loss of life.

The significant long-term effects include the psychological trauma experienced by residents, substantial economic costs related to repairs and business losses, and policy changes concerning flood defences and prevention strategies.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Flood in Cumbria

When were the Cumbria floods? 

The Cumbria floods occurred in both November 2009 and December 2015

How were the Cumbria floods managed? 

The floods were managed in various ways such as implementing a flood management strategy, flood defences such as a self-closing river barrier, river dredging, and early warning systems. 

Why is Cumbria prone to flooding? 

Cumbria is prone to flooding due to the location of towns such as Cockermouth at the confluence of the Derwent and Cocker rivers. The area is also prone to storms and intense rainfall, with flooding events expected to become more frequent in the future due to climate change. 

Why did the Cumbria floods in 2009 happen? 

As a result of a deep depression which was formed in the Atlantic Ocean, warm air rose over the Cumbrian mountains and fell as relief rainfall. This heavy rainfall fell into the Derwent and Cocker rivers, with the rivers bursting their banks resulting in flooding. 

What were the effects of the flood in Cumbria in 2015? 

The 2015 floods were one of the worst and most destructive floods in the UK, with 7,465 properties flooded, transport disrupted, and water polluted to name some of the impacts. The floods were also estimated to have cost £500 million in damage. 

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_____ rain fell during the November 2009 floods 

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River Flooding and Management

Floods can bring both advantages and disadvantages to an area. Floods can deposit rich, fertile alluvium in agricultural areas. Also, flood water can replenish irrigation channels. On the other hand, floods can destroy food supplies, homes and transport infrastructures.

What are the factors affecting flood risk?

A flood occurs when water can no longer be contained within a river channel. The flood risk can be increased by physical and human factors.

Physical factors affecting flood risk

• Precipitation – When there is intense or extended rain, the ground can become overly saturated. This condition prevents water from being absorbed, leading to quicker runoff and a higher chance of flooding.
• Geology – The type of rock in an area can affect flooding risk. Non-porous rocks, meaning they don’t let water seep through, can cause water to flow rapidly across the surface, increasing the likelihood of floods.
• Steep slopes – Water can move swiftly downhill in regions with steep terrain, such as mountains. This rapid movement contributes to a greater risk of flooding in these areas.

Human factors affecting flood risk

Some land uses increase the risk of flooding.

• Farming – Agricultural practices can influence how water moves. For instance, fields without crops, especially during winter when soils are wet, can quickly channel water. Also, ploughing down slopes can form small channels that accelerate water flow directly to rivers.
• Urbanisation – City development affects water movement as well. Hard, non-absorbent surfaces like concrete and asphalt, along with drainage systems, can speed up water flow to rivers. Plus, the scarcity of greenery means less rainwater is absorbed or evaporated.
• Deforestation – Cutting down forests impacts water transfer. Trees normally act like an umbrella, slowing down water movement and using or storing rainwater. Without trees, more water flows directly to rivers, raising the potential for flooding.

Effects of flooding

Flooding can have a significant impact on people. These are known as social impacts. Social impacts can include:

• damage to property
• injury or loss of life

Flooding can also have an impact on wealth. This is known as an economic impact . Economic impacts of flooding include:

• cost of repairs
• reduced tourism

Finally, flooding can have an impact on the surrounding landscape . Environmental impacts of flooding can include:

• loss of livestock
• loss of habitat
• destruction of crops

Managing Flooding – Hard Engineering

Dams Although very expensive, dams can significantly reduce the risk of flooding downstream

Levees These are man-made embankments constructed along the edge of the river. They increase the capacity of the channel to prevent the overflow of water.

The video below shows a levee constructed at Cockermouth, Cumbria following the 2009 floods.

Flood Defence Barriers Similar to levees, only constructed from man-made materials flood defence barriers increase the channel size of a river which prevents the overflow of water.

The video below shows flood defence barriers at Cockermouth, constructed after the 2009 floods.

Managing Flooding – Soft Engineering

Afforestation Planting more trees reduces run-off and increases interception.

Flood Plain Zoning Floodplain zoning policies influence how land on, or close to, floodplains are used.

River restoration involves removing any hard-engineering strategies and restoring the river to its original course. This can involve making the river less straight which can slow the flow of the river.

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Environmental Challenges 101

Written by lec.101 students at the lancaster environment centre, rising waters in cockermouth: the impacts of flooding on communities.

by Gabriella Goodridge – 

Flooding severely impacts human populations, accounting for an estimated 157,000 deaths and combined loss of 1891 billion US$ worldwide from 1994-2015 [1]. Floods may also indirectly result in other disasters from small-scale landslides to large scale events like nuclear meltdowns.

Figure 1: Flooding aftermath – broken walls at Southwaite Bridge. Image: Morebyless, CC BY 2.0 [3]

The 2009 Cockermouth floods occurred on quite a large scale, affecting ~700 residential properties and 225 businesses (80% of businesses in the town). A flood risk journal surveyed a number of businesses, 75% of which were flooded and a further 17% of which weren’t, however claimed they had experienced indirect impacts. [4]

The table below analyses the importance of primary and secondary effects on businesses:

Overall, from this data we can see the vast amount of impacts on businesses. Primary (short-term) impacts included travel difficulties, spoiling/damage of products and loss of electricity. Secondary (long-term) impacts included an increase in insurance costs and loss of trade down the line.

Looking at this data, the secondary effects are more likely to be the “indirect effects” faced by the 17% of businesses mentioned before. The original paper notes that visitors were deterred from travelling here due to the belief that it was “inaccessible”. [4]

Figure 2: “Rankings of impacts according to relative importance index (RII) values”. [4]

One woman who was interviewed by the BBC claimed that not only was she “stranded on the first floor of her home” but also that she was pondering “am I going to survive or not?” [5]. This implies that as well as community spirit and business being degraded by the aforementioned economic impacts, there may also be some form of trauma in individuals from these floods.

Finally, environmental impacts result from flooding. This may include pollution as sewage and chemicals are washed into the water, contaminating it [6]. Also, the river may get eroded more quickly if it bursts its banks resulting in potential habitat destruction and more debris downstream [6]. Judging by the nature of the 2009 flood we can assume that the surrounding area would have experienced these described impacts.

In conclusion floods vary at a range of scales and impacts. The 2009 Cockermouth floods describe how not all floods are necessarily deadly but still can have detrimental effects on people, business and the environment. Hence, we must do our best to not only prevent flooding in the first place but also to have suitable measures in place to aid business and victims if one occurs.

• Williams, M. (2017), 3 billion people affected by flooding disasters in 20 years. Channel 4 News. Viewed 21/11/2020 https://www.channel4.com/news/factcheck/2-3-billion-people-affected-by-flooding-disasters-in-20-years#:~:text=Flooding%20has%20accounted%20for%20nearly
• McCall, I. et al. (2016), Cockermouth S.19 Flood Investigation Report. Cumbria County Council, page 8.
• Morebyless, CC BY 2.0 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Southwaite_Mill_Bridge_Cockermouth_November_2009.jpg
• Wedawatta, G. et al. (2012). Small businesses and flood impacts: the case of the 2009 flood event in Cockermouth. Journal of Flood Risk Management Volume 7, Issue 1. Blackwell Publishing Ltd and The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM), pages 42–53.
• (2013), Cockermouth floods: How community coped with 2009 devastation. BBC News. Viewed 22/11/2020 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-22772151
• (N.D), Impact of flooding. BBC Bitesize. Viewed 29/11/2020 https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/ztb78mn/revision/3

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-The government provided £1 million to help with clean-up -Long term defence plan (building flood defences) £4.4 million -This included reinforced embankments and concrete walls along the derwent side, stone walls and flood gate along the what brewery land Choose matching term 1 What were the main causes, Physical? 2 The Next Flood 3 What were long term responses? 4 What were the impacts? Don't know?