boscastle

• Boscastle is a small village in south-west England that experienced a devastating flash flood in 2004
• Consequently, a flood defence scheme was implemented to reduce the effects of future flooding
• Boscastle


  A harbour village on the north coast of Cornwall that depends on tourism to maintain 90% of its local industry
• Boscastle


  • On the confluence of three rivers: Valency, Jordan and Paradise
  • In August 2004, a month's worth of rain (75 mm) fell over two hours, causing rivers to overflow and flood Boscastle
• The drainage basin of Boscastle is steep with areas of impermeable rock such as slate and granite, which leads to high levels of run-off and causes river levels to rise rapidly during periods of heavy rainfall
• In 2004, very heavy rainfall caused the rivers upstream of Boscastle, the Jordan and Valency, to overflow. Due to the surrounding steep valleys, a large influx of water funnelled down Valency and straight into Boscastle
• Valency had not burst its banks before. The village was not prepared for flooding. 120 people were airlifted to safety, 58 homes and business were flooded, and hundreds of cars were washed away with over 80 vehicles being completely wrecked. The damage to infrastructure cost over £2 million