carlisle floods 2015 case study

Storm Desmond  was an extratropical cyclone and the fourth named storm of the 2015–16 UK and Ireland windstorm season. Desmond directed a plume of moist air, known as an atmospheric river, which brought record amounts of rainfall to upland areas of the UK and subsequent major floods.

Thousands of homes were left flooded or left without power after Storm Desmond wreaked havoc in parts of the UK on the 5th and 6th of December 2015. In Lancashire and Cumbria, more than 43,000 homes across the north of England were left without power, as well as over 2,000 homes in the Republic of Ireland and around 700 in Wales, while an estimated 5,200 homes were affected by flooding.

The storm claimed two lives – in Cumbria and the Republic of Ireland.

Record-breaking amounts of rain fell in Cumbria, the worst-hit county – prompting the county to declare a major incident. Storm Desmond deposited an unusually large amount of rain on ground already saturated by heavy rain, causing widespread flooding.

Areas Affected

Towns on the Scottish border, Carlise, Lancaster, Keswick, Braithwaite and Appleby amongst many others. Large areas have been indirectly affected due to an electricity substation becoming flooded which has left many communities without power.

Storm Desmond satellite image

Rivers affected

River Greta, River Eden, River Teviot, River Kent, River Cocker

The areas worst affected by Storm Desmond – Source BBC News

The areas worst affected by Storm Desmond –  Source BBC News

Cause of Floods

Desmond created an atmospheric river in its wake, bringing in moist air from the Caribbean to the British Isles. As a result, rainfall from Desmond was unusually heavy. The heavy rain and strong winds were caused by an area of low pressure which arrived on Friday from the Atlantic.

The Met Office says Honister in Cumbria received 341.4mm (13.4in) of rain in the 24-hour period from 18:30 GMT on Friday 4 December to 18:30 GMT on Saturday 5 December. This beats the previous UK record set at Seathwaite, also in Cumbria, of 316.4mm (12.4in) on 19 November 2009.

As reported in The Guardian,  Storm Desmond flooding is partly due to climate change .

Storm Desmond caused an estimated £500m of damage across Cumbria – almost double the cost of the floods that hit parts of the county six years ago.

Environment Agency officials said the Cumbria flood defences did work, but no matter how substantial any defences are, “you can always get water levels higher than that, in which case it will go over the top”.

The Met Office said Storm Desmond had more impact because the “exceptional” levels of rain  fell on already saturated land .

More than 1,000 people evacuated across Cumbria.

50,000 people were without power across Cumbria and Lancashire.

1,000 people have been evacuated from the Scottish border town of Hawick.

Road closures and closure of the West Coast Mainline rail route to Scotland and the Cumbrian coast rail line between Carlisle and Workington;

About 40 schools in Cumbria were closed and appointments and routine business across NHS hospitals were cancelled;

A train en route to Glasgow has been left stranded at Carlisle station overnight, with passengers having to sleep onboard.

The UK economy could be dented by as much as £3bn by damage from Storms Eva, Desmond and Frank.

Economic losses from the storms Desmond and Eva will be between £1.6bn and £2.3bn, while insured losses will hit £900m-£1.2bn.

A  waterfall  appeared at  Malham Cove  for a short time due to heavy rainfall. This had not previously happened in living memory.

According to Great Outdoors Magazine, the full extent of the environmental impact of Storm Desmond is yet to be assessed, but it is likely that footpaths and walls have been washed away, ground severely eroded, vegetation destroyed and water quality affected. Large amounts of the fragile upland soils have been washed into the swollen streams, rivers and lakes and will have an impact on water quality and aquatic wildlife.

Millions of tons of sediment was transported by the river and deposited on floodplains and in settlements in the areas affected.

Thousands of trees which once lined rivers in the area affected were ripped from river banks.

Landslides occurred in many places as the result of heavy rainfall and the land becoming saturated.

Kinder Downfall waterfall in the Peak District is put in reverse by strong winds from Storm Desmond

A significant landslide occurred in along the Glenn Riding beck in the Lake District

Human response

More than 100 flood warnings and more than 70 flood alerts were in place in northern England on Saturday night, with more than 90 flood warnings and alerts in Scotland.

The Government mobilised a full national emergency response”. This included 200 military personnel and supporting assets (including a Chinook helicopter); 50 high-volume pumps; and the Environment Agency moving people, temporary defences and pumps to the north-west.

Several teams of Royal Engineers were deployed to help in the emergency response and recovery after the floods in Cumbria and Lancashire. Reconnaissance teams from 21 and 32 Regiment of 170 Engineer Group at Chilwell conducted technical assessments on at-risk and damaged bridges. More engineers were on standby.

Around 90 troops from 2nd Battalion Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment provided assistance and took supplies to remote areas such as Patterdale and Glenridding. Around 350 personnel were available to rotate as required.

£400,000 was donated within 48 hours by the public  after a £1m appeal was launched to help people affected by flooding caused by Storm Desmond.

Following the floods the Government announced a £50m repair and renew scheme for Cumbria and Lancashire after the floods, promising businesses and homeowners they will quickly receive the help they need. The scheme was administered by local authorities.

The Cumbria Flood Recovery Fund 2015, launched by the Cumbria Community Foundation, aims to contribute to clean-up costs, emergency repairs, clothing, food and drink, heating and heating equipment, childcare equipment and basic furniture for individuals and families who already struggle financially.

The government’s Cobra committee announced the 5,000 households and businesses affected would be given council tax and business rate relief.

The government launched the Bellwin scheme to fully reimburse councils for the costs of dealing with flooding, and ministers reviewed all flood defence plans.

Meanwhile, the Prince’s Countryside Fund  announced it is releasing £40,000  from its Emergency Fund, to help rural communities, farmers and businesses in the north of England and Scotland recover from flood damage.

A  National Flood Resilience Review  is taking place to better protect the country from future flooding and increasingly extreme weather events. The review will be published in summer 2016 and will be led by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Oliver Letwin. It will include input from Defra, DECC, DCLG, HMT, the Chief Executive of the Environment Agency and the Government’s Chief Scientist.

A  new Cumbrian Floods Partnership group  has also been formed to “consider what improvements to flood defences in the region may be needed, look at upstream options for slowing key rivers to reduce the intensity of water flows at peak times and build stronger links between local residents, community groups and flood defence planning.” The Group will publish a  Cumbria Action Plan  in summer 2016.

Two funds were set up to to allow people to donate money to support repairing the natural environment affected by Storm Desmond. These were the Ullswater Environment Recovery Fund and Fix the Fells. You can find out more  here .

Subsequent flooding

The village of Glen-ridding flooded for a second time on the 9 December. Widespread flooding was expected after heavy rains on Boxing Day as a result of  Storm Eva , with the Met Office issuing a red warning for parts of Cumbria, Lancashire and Yorkshire. The was then followed by Storm Frank which resulted in significant flooding.

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Carlisle: Building a Fortress against the Floods

Storms Desmond and Eva were two of the most notorious, destructive weather events in recent years. New rainfall records were set in the Lake District for a 24-hour period in December 2015, with 341.4mm recorded on Honister Pass. Cumbria was hit by a conveyer of water which swelled river catchments and bore down on residents directly in its path.

At the height of the storms, some 45,000 properties were without electricity. Some 5200 properties were flooded, leaving the insurance industry with a bill of some £520 million, according to the Association of British Insurers (ABI), including £2.9M of emergency payments for residents to get their lives back together. This is double the amount of storms that hit the same region in 2009.

Carlisle was especially badly affected, with some 2100 properties flooded. It lies at the confluence of two rivers – The Eden and the Caldew, which have highly responsive catchments that feed large volumes of surface run-off from the surrounding fells.

The area immediately to the south of the Eden was worst affected, where the floodplain has been developed. In the town, properties in Warwick Road and Willow Holme Road were swamped with flood water up to the second floor.

The peak flow of the River Eden at Sheepmount was 1680 m3/second, with the river depth peaking at 7.8m – a new record.

Carlisle itself was cut off for some time, leaving residents stranded. Some had to be airlifted off the roofs of their homes. Evacuation was dangerous in darkness and high winds. 2.5 metres of water flooded the fire station and police station, limiting the support local first responders could provide.

In 2010, a £38m flood defence scheme was completed for Carlisle in a bid to protect about 3,000 homes and businesses around the city. They were built in response to the levels of the floods in 2005 and 2009 and at least gave authorities more time to evacuate people.

However, the unprecedented levels of rain were too much for them. Supposedly designed to contain flood levels long into the future, it took just 6 years to be proved inadequate and became largely the reason for the swift removal of the phase “1 in a 100 year event” by the Government and the Environment Agency – as this is clearly not the case anymore for these types of weather events.

The Government gave temporary relief on business and council tax for homes and businesses. Among the major employers affected in Carlisle was the McVitie’s factory, which employs 640 people locally. The site was inundated by the River Caldew with substantial flood damage to electrical equipment and ovens. Nearly 40 million litres of water and 540 tonnes of debris had to be cleared before normal production at the site could resume, according to the owner United Biscuits.

After three major flood events in a decade, the Environment Agency and Cumbria County Council have completed a major investigation and published new recommendations for ensuring it doesn’t happen again.

This includes a package of even higher flood defences, which is welcomed by some but can be unsightly and out of proportion in some locations. For nearby railway lines and pumping stations though, it will provide greater resilience.

A further £24 million is being invested in Carlisle, as part of a wider £72 million package for Cumbria to protect 4,300 homes and businesses by 2021.

But building more walls and hard structures isn’t the only answer. Many hydrologists suggest that this just pushes the problem faster downstream. Better to think about how we manage the upland areas in the rover catchments, to slow the flow of run-off from the surrounding hills.

To meet this in a more holistic way, the Lowther Estate is proposing to plant 213,000 trees over 170 hectares of the estate this winter. This recently-approved government-funded large-scale tree planting scheme will be one of the most productive woodland creation sites in England for more than 25 years.

Trees and vegetation along river banks (called riparian planting) together with incentives for farmer and landowners to create natural dams will disrupt the speed or water flowing down into the residential valleys.

It is not an instant fix, but combined with higher hard defences should give Carlisle a fighting chance for when the next storm will surely come.

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After the floods: One Carlisle street surveys the damage – in pictures

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Following Storm Desmond , photojournalist Peter Caton visited people living on a severely flooded road in Carlisle, Cumbria. His images capture the impact of the floods on their lives and homes

Peter Caton

Wed 16 Dec 2015 12.57 GMT Last modified on Wed 25 Aug 2021 14.57 BST

Photograph: Peter Caton

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https://environmentagency.blog.gov.uk/2015/01/08/10-years-on-from-the-cumbrian-and-carlisle-floods-of-2005/

10 years on from the Cumbrian and Carlisle Floods of 2005

Over the years Carlisle has experienced some severe flooding, but none worse than in January 2005 when over 1,800 properties in the city flooded. Power and telephone lines were disrupted; road and rail networks were closed.

I joined the Environment Agency in February 2005, right after the Carlisle and Cumbria Floods. On a personal note it was devastating to see the impact to people in my community, but on a professional level it was a fascinating time to start working for the Environment Agency; I spent most of the next 5 years working on the design and construction of the £38m improvements to the flood defences in Carlisle.

• The Carlisle Flood Alleviation Scheme was split into two phases: Phase one, Eden & Petteril Rivers (Warwick Road area) Phase two, the River Caldew & Carlisle City (Denton Holme, Caldewgate & Willowholme areas)

I spent 18 months working on site while the Eden & Petteril phase of the flood defences were being constructed. It was a relatively straight forward build, consisting of clay cored embankments and reinforced concrete walls which are used to stop flood water flowing into local homes and businesses. I remember the summer of 2007 being hot and dry, I was overseeing the building of the flood embankments behind Warwick Road and in Melbourne Park and diverting the Old Eden watercourse at the end of Johnny Bulldog’s Lonning.The biggest problem we faced was damping down the dust on the access tracks and keeping the clay moist enough to form the embankments – a very different picture to the heavy rain of winter 2005.

The two biggest technical challenges we faced were the construction of a pumping station at the end of Durranhill Beck, which has two fully automated pumps that can pump 0.5 cubic metres of water per second from the flood storage reservoir; and installing a ‘pali radice piling system’ next to the River Petteril beneath the road towards Riverside House. This was a relatively innovative technique, which knitted together the historic sandstone river retaining wall and added the additional strength required to enable us to install the precast concrete flood defence wall on top.

The second phase of the scheme was along the river Caldew and around the city centre. The design and construction of this phase was a much tougher challenge, which is why it was done second, to give us more time to carry out the investigations and make sure we got the design right.

The main aim of the scheme in Carlisle was to reduce the risk of flooding to residents and businesses, but we also took the opportunity to work with Cumbria County Council, Carlisle City Council and Sustrans to provide greater benefit. There are many elements of the Caldew & Carlisle City phase of the scheme that stand out to me, but might be less obvious to the general observer.

We replaced two footbridges over the Caldew in Denton Holme. The Nicholson Bridge was named after the former Area Manager of the Environment Agency who was instrumental in securing the £38m funding for the flood alleviation schemes in Carlisle, but who unfortunately passed away before they were started.

The wall alongside McIlmoyle Way is constructed from 10m long steel sheet piles surrounded in concrete. The novel thing about this wall is that in order to reduce the thickness of the wall we clad it in 1cm thick bricks. These bricks were glued together in a warehouse and brought to site in large panels which were then stuck onto the concrete wall.

Much of the ‘sandstone’ clad wall, such as alongside Viaduct Estate Road and from Elm Street to the Madford Retail Park, is actually coloured concrete. To make it look like sandstone we used coloured concrete and took moulds from the wall of the City’s Market Hall.

The railings in the old wall between Elm Street and the skew bridge over the River Caldew to Viaduct Estate Road are there to allow the flood water to spill onto the cycleway, increasing the width of the river when it’s in flood. The features built into the railings also reflect the former railway goods line that passed along there. The upstream section of railings depict the scene of a runaway train that partially demolished the bridge on 1st May 1984, the bridge was completely removed during the construction of our scheme, with some of the quoins (masonry blocks at the corners of the wall) from the bridge piers being left next to the path as seating.

Before we built the flood defences, there was no riverside path between Graham Street and Thomas Street. We managed to incorporate a footpath/cycleway which we nicknamed ‘the missing link’ as it connected up the footpath and cycle network so you can now access the city centre without having to pass along the busier roads. In terms of delivering a legacy for the City this is an example of where we tried to think outside the box and use it as an opportunity to provide more than just flood protection, and we’re very proud of the results.

The scheme was completed in 2010, shortly after the November 2009 floods that affected much of the county. In the days leading up to the 2009 floods we worked rapidly to put measures in place to temporarily raise the one remaining uncompleted section and I spent a long night in our incident room in Penrith monitoring the river level forecasts and speaking to our operatives on site. All forecasts were showing that the river level would peak a few centimetres below the top of our temporary measures and it was a great relief when the river levels started to fall.

The flood defences were tested again in June 2012 and May 2013, preventing in excess of £180m of flood damage to the city. So you can see why this has been such a challenging, but fulfilling time to work for the Environment Agency and I continue to look forward to the challenges that my work will throw at me.

Tags: 2005 , carlisle , Cumbria , floods

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Share this page, 11 comments.

Comment by Fred posted on 06 December 2015

Looks like your flood defences failed.

Comment by john posted on 11 November 2022

good crack that

Comment by Jimmy Snugs posted on 06 December 2015

You have a challenge on your hands now , you may have spoke to quick !! 2015 floods kicked the defences butt .

Comment by Nick posted on 07 December 2015

Bet you're not quite so smug now.

Comment by holz posted on 16 December 2015

something has to change, we didn't choose to buy houses that get flooded, homes destroyed family's devastated the effects are soul destroying ... we don't get any help just left to it.

Comment by Brendan posted on 28 December 2015

The commentary shows an amount of ignorance regarding flood protection, rerouting et. which is understandable as it is a very technical part of civil engineering. I would be interested to now what the design return period was for the works at the time and how the latest rainfall/river flows relate to that AEP. Best of luck with the work

Comment by daveferguson posted on 08 January 2016

Hello Brendan, thank you for your comments. The design of the flood defences was to protect against the river levels with a 0.5% chance of occurring in any given year. We are yet to assess what the theoretical return period of the December 2015 storms was.

Comment by RANEIDE WILKINS posted on 28 June 2023

Hi, plan to but a house around city center Alexander street, how flood has been on this area in the last couple years any work or strategy been put in place for avoid this to happen for the future? Anyone can advise what areas or street to avoid?

Comment by eileenroffe posted on 30 June 2023

Good morning, We are a statutory consultee for planning purposes. This means local councils must consult us when considering any planning applications. Our comments on planning applications relate to environmental matters that we are responsible for reviewing. We only comment on planning applications and do not have a role in deciding them. The local council will make the final decision after considering our comments. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/flood-risk-assessment-for-planning-applications Our main consideration when commenting on a planning application, is the effect the development will have on flood risk.. We can offer flood history: https://www.gov.uk/request-flooding-history ^Eileen

Hi, plan to buy a house around city center Alexander street, how flood has been on this area in the last couple years any work or strategy been put in place for avoid this to happen for the future? Anyone can advise what areas or street to avoid?

Comment by Liz posted on 02 January 2016

The defences in Denton holme held, without them the results would have been devastating. Well done. Unfortunately the river flooded in other areas, need to look at those defences.

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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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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.

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 

What is the definition of flooding?

What were the impacts of the 2009 floods in Cumbria?

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_____ rain fell during the November 2009 f loods 

Name 2 responses to the Cumbria 2009 floods 

Flood defenses were installed,  early warning systems or river dredging 

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 2009 floods in Cumbria resulted in the loss of a police officer, extensive property damage and more than 1,300 homes were affected. The infrastructure, including bridges, was ruined, leading to significant community isolation.

What are the main causes of flooding in Cumbria?

The main causes of flooding in Cumbria include heavy rainfall, topography, soil conditions and human intervention, such as urbanisation.

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

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

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Carlisle floods, Cumbria, 2005

• Created by: James McCord
• Created on: 08-04-14 12:50
• Rivers and fluvial processes

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