Rivers Case Studies

Details

• August 2004. 
• Cornwall, UK. 

Causes 

• Heavy rainfall from storms, two rivers burst their banks. 
• 2 billion litres of water rushed down the valley into Boscastle. 
• On the day of the flood, 75mm of rain fell in 2 hours. 
• The Valency and Jordan rivers overflowed. 

Effects

• Primary: cars swept to sea, buildings damaged, water gushed into houses, trees uprooted. 
• Church filled with 6 feet of mud and water. 
• Long term: huge financial cost, major rebuild. 

Responses: 

• Nobody died, airlift using helicopters, Prince Charles made a large donation, increased flood defences. 

Details

• 2004 floods, July to September. 
• By July, 40% of Dhaka underwater. 
• 60% of country submerged. 
• 30 million out of 140 million homeless. 
• 750 dead. 
• Airport flooded, bridges destroyed, hampered relief effort. 
• Damage put to $7 billion. 
• Rice, the main food crop, was washed away. 
• Food supplies, medicine and clothing was distributed. 
• Disease from contaminated water remained a major threat.
• Long term responses: embankments built, flood warnings and provision of food shelters.