The Boscastle flood, also known as the Boscastle disaster, occurred on August 16, 2004, in the

village of Boscastle in Cornwall, England. It was one of the worst flash floods in British history,
with heavy rainfall causing the River Valency to burst its banks and sweep through the village,
causing extensive damage and leaving many people stranded.

This case study examines the events leading up to the flood, the impact it had on the village and its
residents, and the response and recovery efforts that followed.

Causes of the Flood

The Boscastle flood was caused by a combination of factors, including a slow-moving storm system
that brought heavy rainfall to the area, a narrow and steep valley that funneled the water into the
village, and the topography of the land which caused the water to accumulate and flow rapidly
downhill.

Additionally, the village had experienced a period of drought leading up to the flood, causing the
ground to be hard and unable to absorb the sudden influx of water. The existing drainage system in
the village was also unable to cope with the volume of water, exacerbating the flooding.

Impact on Boscastle

The flood caused significant damage to buildings, roads, and bridges in Boscastle, with some
structures being completely destroyed. Many residents were left without homes, and businesses were
forced to close, resulting in a significant economic impact on the village.

The flood also had a devastating effect on the environment, with debris and pollutants being swept
into the river and out to sea, causing damage to the local ecosystem.

Response and Recovery

The emergency response to the flood was swift and effective, with the Coastguard, RNLI, and other
emergency services working together to rescue stranded residents and tourists. The village was
evacuated, and a temporary shelter was set up for those affected by the flood.

The recovery efforts were also well-organized, with the government providing financial assistance to
help rebuild the village and support those who had lost their homes and businesses. The local
community also came together to support each other and rebuild their village.

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Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world © 2024 BBC.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external
linking. A case study on the 2004 Boscastle Flood. (Recommended for people taking AS Geography)
Download Now The town suffered millions of pounds worth of damage but as residents will also
say of that day – it was astounding that nobody died. 13. • A flood warning was issued for parts of
Cornwall at 3:30pm – Boscastle wasn’t specifically warned. • A search and rescue operation was
setup – Lasted until 2:30am the next day – RAF helicopters worked between 6 and 9pm to rescue
over 150 stranded citizens & tourists – Overall, excellent emergency services and Environment
Agency response meant no lives lost • 11 Days after the flood people were allowed to return to their
homes to salvage their belongings. • Prince Charles visited the town 2 days after the flood and
donated a large sum of money to the town. • A few days after the flood, geologists flew over the area
to assess the risk of landslides triggered by the heavy rain. Why not take a look at activities to help
your students become empowered digital citizens? 14. • Flood defence system (New flood defences
were set to be built in October, work had not yet started then) – Deepened the River Valency by 2
metres – increase capacity & reduce risk of flooding – The remains of the “lower bridge” that
triggered a 3m wave was demolished and replaced with a larger bridge that would be more difficult
to block with debris. – In 2007, these defences were put to the test and a much smaller, more
controlled flood occurred. • Businesses were offered compensation for lost revenue & to cover costs
to repair shops etc. • Main car park raised by 1 metre – Left as an area that can flood in order to cope
with excess water • Afforestation on the upper catchment slopes • The effects of the flood caused
people in Boscastle to take their environmental footprint far more seriously – They were led to
believe that climate change exacerbated by human activity was responsible for the “freak weather”
that caused the river to flood. – When buildings were reconstructed, they were done so in an
environmentally friendly manner with insulation, double glazing etc. – The town won 5 awards for
its eco-friendliness. 14. This drain allows water to run into the lower section of the river quickly.
Boscastle flood defences. DOCX, 43.56 KB 9. Write the title ‘Responses to the floods in Boscastle’
Put the following statements in the order you think they occurred after the flood. Draw a line to
separate what you think the short and long term responses to the floods were. People worked
together Sand bags put down People put up in temporary accommodation Evacuation 7 Rescue
helicopters sent in and saved 150 people. Panic Water, sewage systems and telephone lines were
restored. Damaged roads and bridges restored. Debris and silt was cleared from buildings (1850
tonnes in total). People donated money to the Red Cross appeal The relief channel for the River
Jordan was made bigger. River banks and flood walls were raised A B C D E F G H I J K L
Captions are provided by our contributors. No flood warning had been issued for the region, with the
freak conditions leaving it too late to evacuate the village. It was a scene of utter terror — a wall of
water rushed down out of nowhere in a raging torrent that ripped up trees, swept away cars, wrecked
buildings and left people trapped in their own homes. This was the flash flood in 2004 that
devastated Boscastle in north Cornwall, but a much earlier flood disaster had struck there several
decades before that. 15. The river channel is being made deeper and wider so that it can
accommodate more water. The lower section of the village. £4.5 million has been spent on a flood
defence scheme. 16:22 Akimi: International Boscastle Flooding 16th August 2004 Case Study for
GCSE students needing to learn the causes, effects and prevention for the Boscastle floods in 2004.
10. Continued... • Mental trauma – Many residents will suffer stress and anxiety during the year
ahead, with insurance loss adjusters advising that it may be six months before properties are
sufficiently repaired for homeowners to permanently return. – Environment Agency post-event
surveys have repeatedly shown that this is one of the worst problems that flood victims face: they
cannot physically return to their homes even when the floodwaters have receded. – North Cornwall
District Council banned Boscastle residents from returning to even look at their homes for the first
ten days, while structural engineers inspected properties. – Health and Safety legislation also
required that 76 up-ended cars, masses of uprooted trees and sewage-contaminated silts needed to be
moved from the village streets before they could be re-opened to the public. – Only now can actual
interior repairs such as re-plastering begin, and this will take many more months. In some cases, the
historic character of the houses in Boscastle is likely to cause extra problems. Many are Grade II
Listed buildings, which means that repairs will take even longer, as restoration will require specialist
attention. Not quite what you were looking for?Search by keyword to find the right resource: 3.
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. • Boscastle sits in a V
shaped valley and 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. To ensure quality for
our reviews, only customers who have purchased this resource can review it Over 900,000 resources
made by teachers for teachers 17. Bridges that hindered the drainage of the floodwater are being
replaced by stronger bridges that are less likely to get blocked. The lower section of the village.
Notice attempts to draw in much needed custom. Winds - A convergence of the prevailing South-
Westerly winds and the path of the depression cause a vertical uplift of air. This lead to the creation
of cumulonimbus clouds and more rainfall. Land use - The upper part of the village has been
developing urbanisation!
4.
•
Two
rivers
(Valency
&
Jordan)
converge
on
the
village
of
Boscastle.
The
majority
of
the
damage
was
attributable
to
the
Valency.
•
The
River
Valency’s
valley
has
a
high
relief
and
steep
sides
-
surface
runoff
was
increased.
•
No
broad
floodplain
-
the
River’s
floodplain
had
been
urbanised
reducing
infiltration
and
increasing
surface
runoff.
•
Heavy
rain
was
caused
by
extreme
frontal
activity.
(Hurricane
Alex)
–
In
total,
an
input
of
3
million
tonnes
of
water
was
added
to
a
tiny
drainage
basin
of
just
40
sq/
km
–
185mm
of
rain
fell
in
5hrs,
most
of
it
fell
in
the
first
2hrs
•
Infiltration-
excess
&
overland
flow
is
inevitable,
(the
rate
of
input
of
rainwater
massively
exceeding
the
infiltration
capacity
of
the
surrounding
soil
type.
•
The
soils
were
already
saturated
from
previous
rainfall
–
more
overland
flow
•
More
than
440
million
gallons
of
flood
water
poured
down
the
main
high
street
in
Boscastle
•
The
rain
coincided
with
high
tide
in
the
bay.
This
restricted
the
discharge
rate
of
floodwater
into
the
harbour.
2.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Three
rivers
–
the
Valency,
Jordan
and
Paradise
-
converge
on
the
village
of
Boscastle.
The
majority
of
the
damage
was
attributable
to
the
Valency.
Heavy
rain
was
caused
by
extreme
frontal
activity.
In
total,
an
input
of
3
million
tonnes
of
water
was
added
to
a
tiny
drainage
basin,
whose
size
is
just
40
square
kilometres.
Attention
must
be
paid
not
just
to
the
total
volume
of
rain
but
also
the
intensity
with
which
it
fell.
185mm
arrived
in
just
five
hours,
the
majority
falling
in
the
first
two
hours.
Under
such
conditions,
infiltration-
excess
overland
flow
is
inevitable,
with
the
rate
of
input
of
rainwater
greatly
exceeding
the
infiltration
capacity
of
any
soil
type.
The
soils
were
already
saturated
from
previous
rainfall
earlier
in
the
week,
encouraging
overland
flow
to
begin
even
sooner.
The
three
river
valleys
are
very
steep
and
narrow.
A
broader
floodplain
would
have
helped
to
soak
up
excess
water
and
to
dissipate
energy
more
effectively
(through
an
increased
hydraulic
radius).
The
steep
valley
sides
mean
that
soils
are
thin,
as
a
result
of
mass
movement,
with
limited
storage
capacity.
The
parent
material
is
old,
hard
sandstone
with
limited
permeability.
The
rivers
here
are
naturally
flashy.
Surrounding
vegetation
includes
agricultural
land
with
limited
interception
storage,
although
there
is
some
forestry
along
the
riverbanks.
(So
conditions
would
have
been
even
worse,
without
these
patches
of
woodland!)
The
rain
coincided
with
high
tide
in
the
bay.
This
restricted
the
rate
of
exit
of
floodwater
into
the
harbour.
Human
Causes
•
The
settlement
of
Boscastle
has
been
allowed
to
develop
on
a
narrow
flood
plain
on
the
west
coast
of
England,
where
rainfall
is
often
high.
The
rainfall
hit
at
the
worst
time
of
year
when
the
settlement
population
doubles
to
2,000
as
tourists
arrive,
many
of
who
are
following
the
South
West
Coast
Path.
Much
higher
levels
of
motor
vehicle
damage
were
also
experienced, as a result of this influx. In addition, shops were carrying greater levels of stock than at
other times of the year. • Although new flood defences were set to be built in October, work had not
yet started. • Overall, excellent emergency services and Environment Agency response meant no
lives lost. However, due to the • 13. • A flood warning was issued for parts of Cornwall at 3:30pm –
Boscastle
wasn’t specifically warned. • A search and rescue operation was setup – Lasted until 2:30am the next
day – RAF helicopters worked between 6 and 9pm to rescue over 150 stranded citizens & tourists –
Overall, excellent emergency services and Environment Agency response meant no lives lost • 11
Days after the flood people were allowed to return to their homes to salvage their belongings. •
Prince Charles visited the town 2 days after the flood and donated a large sum of money to the town.
•
A
few days after the flood, geologists flew over the area to assess the risk of landslides triggered by the
heavy rain. A bundle is a package of resources grouped together to teach a particular topic, or a
series of lessons, in one place. 9. Write the title ‘Responses to the floods in Boscastle’ Put the
following
statements in the order you think they occurred after the flood. Draw a line to separate what you
think the short and long term responses to the floods were. People worked together Sand bags put
down
People put up in temporary accommodation Evacuation 7 Rescue helicopters sent in and saved 150
people. Panic Water, sewage systems and telephone lines were restored. Damaged roads and bridges
restored. Debris and silt was cleared from buildings (1850 tonnes in total). People donated money to
the
Red Cross appeal The relief channel for the River Jordan was made bigger. River banks and flood
walls were raised A B C D E F G H I J K L casestudy.sbs’s server IP address could not be found. 9. •
Economic losses – Much of rural Cornwall is classified as a deprived region. It is one of the UK’s
poorest rural counties. A victim of early deindustrialisation, the region’s mining industries are now
long- gone leaving it over-dependent on tourism. – Most shops stayed shut for the rest of the season
and
the
reduction in tourist numbers during future years, may result in a negative multiplier effect for the
entire local community. “We've actually lost 79% of our turnover this winter” • In addition, shops
were
carrying greater levels of stock than at other times of the year. – House prices fell – People found the
value of their homes permanently reduced, now that Boscastle is associated with a serious flood risk.
It has been suggested that values have halved • Wider regional impact – In addition, the effect may
spread beyond Boscastle if other river-line settlements are perceived to be at risk by tourists. –
Boscastle
businesses can claim compensation from their insurance companies (claims for ‘disruption to trading’
in
Boscastle
could amount to £15m). However, others businesses elsewhere in Cornwall cannot, even though they
too may suffer reduced trade next year. – This is a cause for concern, with tourism accounting for
30% of Cornwall’s GDP. The population doubles during July and August each year, with tourists
spending up to £1 billion throughout the county. The Harbour area road was resurfaced. Work on
rebuilding the culvert in Dunn Street completed. Old Lower Bridge was demolished, and the new
Lower Bridge was brought into use. 6. • The settlement of Boscastle has been allowed to develop on
a
narrow
flood
plain
on
the
west
coast
of
England,
where
rainfall
is
often
high.
•
Early settlers would have been attracted by ‘site’ factors such as the fresh water supply and access to
a
natural harbour. • There are now around 1,000 permanent residents, most of who rely upon the
situation of the settlement to provide tourist revenues (it is close to the South West Coast Path). • The
rainfall
hit
at
the
worst
time
of
year
when
the
settlement
population
doubles
to
2,000
as
tourists
arrive,
many
of
who
are
following
the
South
West
Coast
Path.
International Quizzes An estimated 440million gallons of water swept through the picturesque West
Country town on 16 August 2004, after heavy rainfall led to the bursting of banks and the
convergence of three rivers. Public consultations were held and villagers were asked to select their
preference from four designs; most did not choose the one which has been proposed. 4. Heavy rain
Narrow, steep valley sides & impermeable ground Narrow channel & building on floodplain
Saturated land 11. Managing the risk of flooding in Boscastle. A £4.5m scheme to improve flood
defences. 16:22 Akimi: © Copyright Get Revising 2024 all rights reserved. Get Revising is one of
the
trading names of The Student Room Group Ltd. 12. Heavy, thundery downpours developed by
midday across south- west England on 16th August . These showers formed bands which aligned
themselves with the wind helping to maintain the heavy rain across certain areas of north Cornwall
for several hours. It would appear that the serious nature of these floods was exacerbated by the local
topography around Boscastle. The historical record shows that Boscastle has always been a
hazardous environment and prone to steep rises in discharge after heavy rain. However, recent events
are
more
severe than any other hydrograph event on record. This website and its content is subject to our
Terms and Conditions. Tes Global Ltd is registered in England (Company No 02017289) with its
registered office at Building 3, St Paul’s Place, Norfolk Street, Sheffield, S1 2JE Watch this video to
see the effect of the flood on humans and the environment. Make a list of effects you can observe
from
the
clip. Get inspired for your next project! Winds - A convergence of the prevailing South-Westerly
winds and the path of the depression cause a vertical uplift of air. This lead to the creation of
cumulonimbus clouds and more rainfall. Land use - The upper part of the village has been developing
urbanisation! 14. • Flood defence system (New flood defences were set to be built in October, work
had
not
yet started then) – Deepened the River Valency by 2 metres – increase capacity & reduce risk of
flooding – The remains of the “lower bridge” that triggered a 3m wave was demolished and replaced
with
a
larger bridge that would be more difficult to block with debris. – In 2007, these defences were put to
the
test and a much smaller, more controlled flood occurred. • Businesses were offered compensation for
lost revenue & to cover costs to repair shops etc. • Main car park raised by 1 metre – Left as an area
that
can flood in order to cope with excess water • Afforestation on the upper catchment slopes • The
effects of the flood caused people in Boscastle to take their environmental footprint far more
seriously – They were led to believe that climate change exacerbated by human activity was
responsible for the “freak weather” that caused the river to flood. – When buildings were
reconstructed, they were done so in an environmentally friendly manner with insulation, double
glazing etc. – The town won 5 awards for its eco-friendliness. Today HM Coastguard is a world
leader in maritime search and rescue. Looking back almost 200 years, the goods, which now travel by
road, were carried by hundreds of small ships. Year in year out dozens of ships and hundreds of lives
were
lost within sight of the coast. Public shock and dismay at the tragedies drove forward the creation of
national life saving organisations. Though it’s beginnings lie in those decades HM Coastguard
originated not to meet the dangers of the seas but to combat a threat to the country’s economy and
security – smuggling. As soon as medieval taxes were charged on imports and exports, people began
smuggling. By 1743 th e estimate was that half the tea drunk in Britain was illegally imported and
shows that smuggling was highly profitable. Smugglers have often been romanticised but the reality
was
brutal. Local people lived in fear, with violent reprisals on informers and the murder of revenue
officers, while corruption enabled smugglers to evade harsh p
New
Zealand
This
lesson
is
completely
ready
to
use
and
fully
resourced!
The
river
channel
has
been
made
deeper
and
wider
so
that
it
can
accommodate
more
water.
12.
Heavy,
thundery
downpours
developed
by
midday
across
south-
west
England
on
16th
August
.
These
showers
formed
bands
which
aligned
themselves
with
the
wind
helping
to
maintain
the
heavy
rain
across
certain
areas
of
north
Cornwall
for
several
hours.
It
would
appear
that
the
serious
nature
of
these
floods
was
exacerbated
by
the
local
topography
around
Boscastle.
The
historical
record
shows
that
Boscastle
has
always
been
a
hazardous
environment
and
prone
to
steep
rises
in
discharge
after
heavy
rain.
However,
recent
events
are
more
severe
than
any
other
hydrograph
event
on
record.
How
did
the
flood
affect
the
local
people?
Download
to
read
offline
Explore
these
comprehensive,
pupil-
friendly
mastery
resource
packs
for
year
1-
6
Registered
in
England
No.
894646.
Registered
office:
1
London
Bridge
Street,
SE1
9GF.
Narrow
river
channels
in
the
village
itself.
International
Quizsearches
The
main
structure
of
the
former
lower
bridge
survived
the
flood,
however
the
stone
walls
did
not,
and
were
washed
away.
The
incident
led
to
MPs
and
Prince
Charles
visiting
the
flood-
hit
region,
while
an
appeal
for
stricken
householders
and
businesses reached £400,000 in donations. “They made a really good job of rebuilding the village
and
everyone worked really hard. 1. Case Study – Boscastle Floods Flash floods in Cornwall devastated
the
tourist village of Boscastle during August. The settlement was badly damaged leading to an
extensive clear-up and on-going repair work, after heavy, intense rainfall caused local rivers to burst
their banks. The Causes A hazard is a negative interaction between physical and human systems. The
causes of a hazard therefore encompass (1) (2) The physical factors responsible (in this case, heavy
rainfall and catchments characteristics that promote rapid surface run-off) and The human factors
that
have brought people, knowingly or not, into an environment where they are now at risk. Physical
Causes DOCX, 309.7 KB 16. • Levels of property damage in Lynmouth (1952) and Boscastle (2004)
are
very similar, notably the number of properties damaged. • Loss of life is very different. No lives were
lost in 2004, partly reflecting improvements in flood warning techniques, levels of public education
and
emergency service preparation for such extreme hazard events. • Seven Navy and coastguard
helicopters as well as 17 fire engines were quickly scrambled to help stranded residents escape from
the
roofs of their houses. • The Environment Agency web site now provides 24hr flood warning
information, which may have alerted people of the impending danger. • The same physical factor -
extreme frontal rainfall - was the primary cause of the hazard in both cases. 185mm in 5hrs in
Boscastle, compared with 230mm over 14hrs in Lynmouth. • Both events also occurred in the same
part of the world under near-identical conditions of geology and relief. • However, the hazard
impact was greater at Lynmouth, claiming 34 lives, due to one key additional factor: the blocking of
the
river
Lyn’s narrow-arched road-bridge. Alamy and its logo are trademarks of Alamy Ltd. and are
registered in certain countries. Copyright © 15/04/2024 Alamy Ltd. All rights reserved. Report this
resourceto let us know if it violates our terms and conditions. Our customer service team will review
your report and will be in touch. Stretch and challenges and sentence starters for differentiation. The
Harbour area road was resurfaced. Work on rebuilding the culvert in Dunn Street completed. Old
Lower Bridge was demolished, and the new Lower Bridge was brought into use. Ten years on, I
would
like to pay tribute to all those involved - the Coastguards, Police, Fire crews, Ambulance crews,
Lifeboat crews, the members of the public who helped and, of course, the helicopter crews for air
lifting so many to safety. 6. • The settlement of Boscastle has been allowed to develop on a narrow
flood
plain on the west coast of England, where rainfall is often high. • Early settlers would have been
attracted by ‘site’ factors such as the fresh water supply and access to a natural harbour. • There are
now around 1,000 permanent residents, most of who rely upon the situation of the settlement to
provide tourist revenues (it is close to the South West Coast Path). • The rainfall hit at the worst time
of
year
when the settlement population doubles to 2,000 as tourists arrive, many of who are following the
South West Coast Path. 9. • Economic losses – Much of rural Cornwall is classified as a deprived
region. It is one of the UK’s poorest rural counties. A victim of early deindustrialisation, the region’s
mining industries are now long- gone leaving it over-dependent on tourism. – Most shops stayed shut
for
the
rest of the season and the reduction in tourist numbers during future years, may result in a negative
multiplier effect for the entire local community. “We've actually lost 79% of our turnover this
winter” • In addition, shops were carrying greater levels of stock than at other times of the year. –
House prices fell – People found the value of their homes permanently reduced, now that Boscastle
is
associated with a serious flood risk. It has been suggested that values have halved • Wider regional
impact – In addition, the effect may spread beyond Boscastle if other river-line settlements are
perceived to be at risk by tourists. – Boscastle businesses can claim compensation from their
insurance companies (claims for ‘disruption to trading’ in Boscastle could amount to £15m).
However,
others businesses elsewhere in Cornwall cannot, even though they too may suffer reduced trade next
year. – This is a cause for concern, with tourism accounting for 30% of Cornwall’s GDP. The
population doubles during July and August each year, with tourists spending up to £1 billion
throughout the county. I’d also like to pay tribute to the people of Boscastle and the surrounding
area who have over the years rebuilt Boscastle to its former glorious self. 3. transient nature of the
tourist population, it took a long time to clearly establish that there had been no fatalities. The Effects
• • • • Economic losses Much of rural Cornwall is classified as a deprived region. It is one of the
UK’s poorest rural counties, with EU Objective One status, meaning that incomes are below 75% of
the
EU average (Financial Times, 18 August 2004). A victim of early de-industrialisation, the region’s
mining industries are now long-gone leaving it overdependent on tourism. Luckily, a strong
association with Arthurian legends and with the writer Thomas Hardy has helped foster high visitor-
numbers for Boscastle (Hardy met his wife there and helped build St Juliot’s church). However, most
shops will now stay shut for the rest of the season and the bad publicity is likely to reduce tourist
numbers during future years, resulting in a negative multiplier effect for the entire local community.
Wider regional impact In addition, the effect may spread beyond Boscastle if other river-line
settlements are perceived to be at risk by tourists. Boscastle businesses can claim compensation from
their insurance companies (claims for ‘disruption to trading’ in Boscastle could amount to £15m).
However,
others businesses elsewhere-in Cornwall cannot, even though they too may suffer reduced trade next
year. This is a cause for concern, with tourism accounting for 30% of Cornwall’s GDP. The
population doubles during July and August each year, with tourists spending up to £1 billion
throughout the county. House price falls People will find the value of their homes permanently
reduced, now that Boscastle is associated with a serious flood risk. It has been suggested that values
have halved (The Guardian, 19 August 2004). Mental trauma Many residents will suffer stress and
anxiety during the year ahead, with insurance loss adjusters advising that it may be six months
before properties are sufficiently repaired for homeowners to permanently return (The Guardian, 21
August
2004). Environment Agency post-event surveys have repeatedly shown that this is one of the worst
problems that flood victims face: they cannot physically return to their homes even when the
floodwaters have receded. North Cornwall District Council banned Boscastle residents from
returning to even look at their homes for the 11. • Sediment accretion – Much of the village’s open
land, including gardens and the village green, were covered with fresh beds of alluvial silt. – As the
floodwaters receded and the three rivers lost energy, they deposited a large amount of sediment
(most houses contained a two-foot deep deposit of mud). • River channel changes – The bed of the
River Jordan is 10ft higher than before the flood, as a result of sediment transport and deposition. –
It
has
also changed its course. Pupils begin by looking at the location of Boscastle with maps provided as
well as support for weaker students on how to describe this. Causes of the flood are taught with a
memory game and questions clearly differentiated as they get harder. A slide outlining all the impacts
are
also included. Pupils can then categorise these into social, economic and environmental impacts. A
writing opportunity is then available for higher ability pupils as well as peer assessment comments
given for pupils to make each others work.
Over 900,000 resources made by teachers for teachers A bundle is a package of resources grouped
together to teach a particular topic, or a series of lessons, in one place. 364,900,275 stock photos,
360° panoramic images, vectors and videos HM Coastguard has a long and proud tradition of
stepping into action at a moment’s notice. This was certainly the case when Graham King of the
Boscastle Coastguard Rescue Team was the first to identify the danger and to raise the alarm. Select
country To understand the effects of the flooding. 4. first ten days, while structural engineers
inspected properties. Health and Safety legislation also required that 76 up-ended cars, masses of
uprooted trees and sewage-contaminated silts needed to be moved from the village streets before
they could be re-opened to the public. Only now can actual interior repairs such as re-plastering
begin, and this will take many more months. In some cases, the historic character of the houses in
Boscastle is likely to cause extra problems. Many are Grade II Listed buildings, which means that
repairs will take even longer, as restoration will require specialist attention. • • • • • Heavy property
damage Six properties were destroyed outright. Most others will require between £15,000 and
£30,000 for repairs. Shared amenities such as the village green are now covered with silt and up-
ended cars. These are serious costs for a small community with a seasonal employment problem, due
to its over-reliance on summer tourism. Insurance companies will reimburse most people. Some home
and car owners will not receive compensation if (a) they lack insurance cover or (b) they find that
they are not entitled to payment because insurers regard this unusual event as an ‘Act of God’.
Infrastructure disruption Both bridges in the village have been destroyed and sections of road have
been swept away. Telephone, water, electricity and gas supplies were all immediately interrupted.
Irreplaceable loss of historical artefacts The ‘Witch Museum’ – which is fifty years old and receives
50,000 visitors a year – has seen some of its unique contents damaged (BBC R4, Today, 18 August
2004). Is Global Warming To Blame? • • • ‘The Met Office said that heavy, thundery downpours
developed by midday across south-west England on 16 August 2004. These showers formed bands
which aligned themselves with the wind helping to maintain the heavy rain across certain areas of
north Cornwall for several hours. The trigger mechanisms for these storms appeared to be
convergence of winds along the coast and the high ground in the local area which also helped to
generate showers. It would appear that the serious nature of these floods was exacerbated by the
local topography around Boscastle. The content might have been moved or deleted, or you may have
mis-typed the link. Download to read offline Report this resourceto let us know if it violates our
terms and conditions. Our customer service team will review your report and will be in touch. 2. Key
words from this case study Impermeable surfaces – where water cannot soak into the ground and so
runs straight over the top e.g. concrete, tarmac and rocks such as slate or clay. Surface run-off –
where water that has not soaked into the ground flows over the surface. This way water enter rivers
much faster than if it soaked into the ground. Saturated – when the ground is so full of water it
cannot soak up anymore. This is also when surface runoff occurs. Home > GCSE > Geography >
Full Case Study on the Boscastle Floods (2004) Why not take a look at activities to help your
students become empowered digital citizens? The main structure of the former lower bridge survived
the flood, however the stone walls did not, and were washed away. Download to read offline 4.
Effects • • • • • • • • • The flooding affected 58 properties and 1000 people, with belongings being
destroyed and lost. 4 properties were demolished, including the visitor centre. In addition, 84
wrecked cars were in the harbour, with another 32 out at sea. Damage to buildings and services cost
North Cornwall District Council up to £2 million. A dramatic decrease in tourist numbers
immediately after the flood led to the town being described by business leaders as a ‘tourist ghost
town’. However, when businesses reopened the village was ‘bustling’ with ‘sightseers’. Despite this,
hotel businesses suffered from a decrease in overnight visitors. However, it could be seen that the
flood in Boscastle has benefited the village economically in the long run. The benefits include new
shops built with insurance money, a new, bigger visitor centre, a reshaped car park away from the
river and a new flood alleviation scheme. Flooding can cause problems in both Entire unit KS3
Geography - Weather and climate. Focus on many types of weather: clouds, extreme weather,
heatwaves, hurricanes, UK flooding, tornadoes, thunderstorms. Case study lessons included: UK
heatwave 2018, Beast from the East 2018, Hurricane Katrina, UK Flooding- Boscastle, Joplin
(Missouri) tornado. Plus an assessment based on the lessons. All lessons include differentiated tasks,
learning objectives and key words. I personally know this particular area very well, having been a
Coastguard Sector Manager in Cornwall and been brought up in Port Isaac. When I saw the
devastation caused by the floods my thoughts went not just to my friends, but to all those in
immediate danger. Download Now developed The river channel has been made deeper and wider so
that it can accommodate more water. This has helped me more than i can say. thanks sooo much.
Boscastle car park has been raised in height, which will stop the river from bursting its banks so
easily. To ensure quality for our reviews, only customers who have purchased this resource can
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Australia The incident led to MPs and Prince Charles visiting the flood-hit region, while an appeal
for stricken householders and businesses reached £400,000 in donations. To know the causes of the
Boscastle floods. Feb 05, · Boscastle 16 August Boscastle 16 August Skip navigation Peter Gibbs
explains the cause of Boscastle flood on BBC News 24 - Duration. United Kingdom No comments
yet! Add one to start the conversation. 16. New sewerage systems are being put in place. The lower
section of the village. People abandoned cars on both sides of the road. An influx of funding to a
less developed area from charities and NGOs after a flood can result in new infrastructure being
constructed that is substantially better than the previously existing infrastructure. Not quite what you
were looking for?Search by keyword to find the right resource: Not quite what you were looking
for?Search by keyword to find the right resource: “But I can say, and I am sure that for a lot of
people who were there then, it changed forever. This resource hasn't been reviewed yet
casestudy.sbs’s server IP address could not be found. 2. • • • • • • • • • Three rivers – the Valency,
Jordan and Paradise - converge on the village of Boscastle. The majority of the damage was
attributable to the Valency. Heavy rain was caused by extreme frontal activity. In total, an input of 3
million tonnes of water was added to a tiny drainage basin, whose size is just 40 square kilometres.
Attention must be paid not just to the total volume of rain but also the intensity with which it fell.
185mm arrived in just five hours, the majority falling in the first two hours. Under such conditions,
infiltration-excess overland flow is inevitable, with the rate of input of rainwater greatly exceeding
the infiltration capacity of any soil type. The soils were already saturated from previous rainfall
earlier in the week, encouraging overland flow to begin even sooner. The three river valleys are very
steep and narrow. A broader floodplain would have helped to soak up excess water and to dissipate
energy more effectively (through an increased hydraulic radius). The steep valley sides mean that
soils are thin, as a result of mass movement, with limited storage capacity. The parent material is old,
hard sandstone with limited permeability. The rivers here are naturally flashy. Surrounding vegetation
includes agricultural land with limited interception storage, although there is some forestry along the
riverbanks. (So conditions would have been even worse, without these patches of woodland!) The
rain coincided with high tide in the bay. This restricted the rate of exit of floodwater into the harbour.
Human Causes • The settlement of Boscastle has been allowed to develop on a narrow flood plain
on the west coast of England, where rainfall is often high. The rainfall hit at the worst time of year
when the settlement population doubles to 2,000 as tourists arrive, many of who are following the
South West Coast Path. Much higher levels of motor vehicle damage were also experienced, as a
result of this influx. In addition, shops were carrying greater levels of stock than at other times of the
year. • Although new flood defences were set to be built in October, work had not yet started. •
Overall, excellent emergency services and Environment Agency response meant no lives lost.
However, due to the • 16. • Levels of property damage in Lynmouth (1952) and Boscastle (2004) are
very similar, notably the number of properties damaged. • Loss of life is very different. No lives were
lost in 2004, partly reflecting improvements in flood warning techniques, levels of public education
and emergency service preparation for such extreme hazard events. • Seven Navy and coastguard
helicopters as well as 17 fire engines were quickly scrambled to help stranded residents escape from
the roofs of their houses. • The Environment Agency web site now provides 24hr flood warning
information, which may have alerted people of the impending danger. • The same physical factor -
extreme frontal rainfall - was the primary cause of the hazard in both cases. 185mm in 5hrs in
Boscastle, compared with 230mm over 14hrs in Lynmouth. • Both events also occurred in the same
part of the world under near-identical conditions of geology and relief. • However, the hazard impact
was greater at Lynmouth, claiming 34 lives, due to one key additional factor: the blocking of the
river Lyn’s narrow-arched road-bridge. This encouraged surface runoff. Hydrograph and brute facts
The lag time of the flood is 4. Four footbridges along the Valency were washed away. developing A
bundle is a package of resources grouped together to teach a particular topic, or a series of lessons, in
one place. The bridge used to have a concrete plaque on it saying "This bridge is the private property
of the lord of the manor, August ". Also, hedges have been removed to make fields bigger. Lack of
any flood control system - in the form of either raised banks around the river channel or emergency
drainage ditches to catch overflowed water. This was lost during the flood, but then recovered from
the harbour in good condition. This bridge has now been replaced with a new one. During the flood
of14 cars became lodged beneath it, this had caused a huge backlog of flood water and debris,
adding to the damage caused in the surrounding area. “My museum is situated next to the harbour
near the river,” says Graham “and I can see the coastguard equipment store from there. Initially I was
concerned that the vehicle and equipment were going to become stranded but I soon began to realise
how quickly the situation was deteriorating and called Falmouth Coastguard” Download to read
offline Download Now Download to read offline Canada Commemorate 100 years since the end of
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