AO5 Researching a Major disaster

Boscastle Floods 1. Find a Google map of Boscastle to show where it is?

2. What date did the incident happen? The Boscastle flood of 2004 occurred on Monday, 16 August 2004 3. What actually happened? In the two villages of Boscastle and Cracking ton Haven in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The villages suffered extensive damage after flash floods caused by an exceptional amount of rain that fell over eight hours that afternoon. 4. What were the causes of the flood? 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. The drainage basin 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. 5. How much rain actually fell? 20,000,000 cubic metres (5.3109 US gal) of water 6. Was this the first time Boscastle had flooded?

1996 as a result of Hurricane Lili, but floods are recorded in 1847, 1957, 3 June 1958 7. Use the below link to access the timeline of what happened. Can you name as many of the emergency services that were deployed on that day as possible? Fire fighter Police Ambulance Mountains recue team

http://www.floodwarn.co.uk/pdf/Boscastle_flood.pdf

8. Fire-fighters from which stations were mobilized to Boscastle? 15.53 - 16.49 Fire services from Launceston, St Austell, Bodmin, Padstow and Truro are mobilised to Boscastle. 9. Which fire service was the first to arrive on the scene at Boscastle? Fire-fighters from Delabole Station, the first emergency service, are in attendance at Boscastle. 10. What role did the police play in the event? How were they able to help? All access roads to Boscastle are closed by the Police. A further wall of floodwater rides through Boscastle car park and crashes into the Visitor Centre. Water now entering the Visitor Centre, the double doors are breaking. 11. RAF helicopters were scrambled from which bases? Rescue helicopters 169 from RAF Chivenor and 193 from RNAS Culdrose are scrambled. 12. What role did these helicopters play? Rescue helicopter 193 reports 15 people dropped off so far, 12 of whom have been rescued from the Visitor Centres roof and flown to safety on Boscastle football pitch, which is the drop zone for the helicopters. This is one of the largest numbers of people rescued in a single flight during the whole operation. 13. At 2100 hours fire relief crews from nearby stations were scrambled, what does this mean? They return to the base and everyone been rescued over 150, but 2 missing dogs. 14. During the rescue operation 6 fire fighters had to be airlifted, why do you think this was? Because the rescue team risking them self to help casualty but they dint realise they are risking there own safety so the rescue helicopter lift them up to safety. 15. Life boats were scrambled from nearby Lifeguard stations why was this?

They have to search every car and smash the windows to check if there were any people in there, they had to search over 30 cars, also the had to switch boats, they return to base and deployed new life boats because refuelling take to much time. 16. What Jobs did the fire fighters do on this day and after the event in the clean up operation? Crews deployed to rescue persons and to provide assistance with salvage work using minimum equipment and ensuring appliances and crews are positioned for quick safe egress to safe area. Life risk priority, pumping out of property is unlikely during this stage. Resources are protected for deployment in full as the event eases. Weather conditions monitored and crews updated of likely conditions in catchment areas above incident.

17. Watch the video link below. What do you think flash flooding means? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrb0Ea0OkKU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjOEdeAAyA4&feature=fvst A flash flood is a sudden inundation of water in low-lying areas, usually brought on by heavy rain or a dam break. When the ground becomes so saturated with water that more cannot be absorbed, the overflow begins to rush downhill, sweeping away whatever is in its path 18. How many casualties were there in the incident? Over 150. 19. How many homes were flooded? There were 766 buildings destroyed.