Floods in Cumbria

[jimjamjon]

Unless you've been the victim of flood damage, like any traumatic event it is almost impossible to appreciate the heartache such occurrences yield. A friend of mine has to make assessments of such damage and to deal with the logistical minefield of flood insurance claims.
Apparently his firm has been called out an unprecedented amount of times this week to deal with situations that we all knew were likely to happen at some point even though questionable action for flood prevention had been taken.
Where does the true responsibility fall and why is it that yet again no one has the energy, integrity or semblance of will to sincerely take responsibility and protect those who need it and deliver them from what has already proved a very intense period.
Insurance companies have a tendency to xexexexexe the enquiries and procrastinate leaving individual claimants in greater disarray and heartache.

Thankfully there are people like my friend Alan (although few and far between) who can get these lethargic corporations to get off their complacent backsides and actually resolve issues.
You can reach him at alan.barker@aspray.com
Flood damage assessment

[Boddie]

Originally Posted by Richard G.

Some pretty amazing images of the Lakes today on this site.
Lake District flood.
Gotta feel for folk caught up in this, unimaginable...

These images are staggering as I recognise a few of the places and it really brought it home. Thanks for sharing them with us

[Monkster]

I'm in South Cumbria but luckily about as far south as you can get and on the coast so we have escaped the floods so far.
Those images on the link from Richard have brought it home just how devastating and unimagineable the depth of the water is in these places and I'm just sat here agasp and not able to believe my eyes at the images before me.
Only a few miles up the road friends have been flooded out in areas that would have normally seemed quite safe.
Even though I am so close to all the flooding I still cannot imagine the full horrors and havoc it causes to communities and their wildlife.
Best wishes and my thoughts to all of those affected by this desperate situation.
Suzanne

[The Woodman]

The images in Richards link are remarkable. It wasn't too long ago when a couple of WABbers got married in the Swan Hotel at Newby Bridge. It couldn't have happened today.

The images of the bridge at the Whitewater Hotel are incredible. Backbarrow Bridge used to carry the A590 main road bridge before the bypass was built. On the upstream elevation there is a flood level carved onto a stone with a date of, I think, 1875. That level is higher than the bridge arch and I've seen some pretty big floods going through that bridge and thought that level must have been quite a sight. What the area has just seen is the higest level ever recorded on the River Leven.

The Leven is the short river that drains Windermere and is joined by the Crake which drains Coniston Water before flowing into the north east corner of Morecambe Bay.

The floods coincided with neap tides fortunately. spring tides would have seen a huge area of flooding. The recent events have been described in the press today as of "Biblical proportions".

[The Woodman]

Just a little more on the Cumbrian flooding.

If you saw the images on the link of the Backbarrow Bridge over the River Leven it might be difficult to put them into context of a normal river flow and height. I called by today and took these images, the river level now would be deemed a big flood.

This is a view downstream to the bridge



A closer view



The November 3rd 1898 flood level marker - the highest historical recorded level



A view from downstream, the parapet walls have gone



And finally - looking upstream from the hydroelectric plant headrace which was shut to prevent damage to the turbines. The Whitewater Hotel has suffered with floodwater.

(Image missing - sorry)

This is just one instance of damage and is relatively minor to what others have suffered in the county.

[Richard G.]

Some more shots from the weekend on stridingedge.net too.
Lake District floods - Saturday 21st November 2009

[The Woodman]

Heard yesterday that a small bridge on a single track road over the River Crake has fallen. Bouthrey Bridge crosses the river at the foot of Coniston Water. There was a Daubentons Bat roost and an Otter holt in the structure.

Ther is so much land under water I've been wondering how small mammal populations will fare and the knock on effect to Barn Owls and all the other predators. Field Voles must be taking a hit. Of course, this pales into insignificance to what humans are suffering in some parts.

The Leven peaked at 2.54 metres last week, a "big normal" flood is around 1.4 metres at the hydrometry station.

[posie]

Does anyone know things are in Cumbria and surrounding Counties now, tonight. We've had winds here close speeds to a hurricane by the sound of it. The sparrows here that usually roost in the trees and hedges, came into the stables for shelter tonight, poor little things, the horses didn't take any notice of them, but one of the cats fancied her chances, till I chased her away. I wonder how things are up the Northern and Scottish parts..Posie..