The UK has a mixed history when it comes to floods. Historically, the UK has suffered severe flooding over vast swathes of land, all the while remaining famously ill prepared for such situations.
To give a bit more insight, we’ve put together a summary of some of the UK’s worst flooding disasters, and the impact they had.
The Benchmark – 1947
In 1947, Britain was struck by ‘the perfect storm’. Record snowfall followed by a sudden thaw which culminated in heavy rain produced what is widely considered to be Britain’s worst flood, or at the very least, the event all subsequent floods have been measured against. This is due to its well documented (and frankly staggering) impacts – most commonly quoted figures include over 100,000 homes directly affected by flooding and over 750,000 hectares of farmland submerged. In fact, its effects were so severe that the UK actually received international aid. The most notable being food parcels from Canada.
The damages at the time totalled to around £12 million, which is estimated at £300 million in today’s economic climate. These impacts are clearly the reason why the most frequently asked question in relation to UK flooding seems to be ‘was 1947 the worst flood since records began?’ A closer look at more recent floods could perhaps bring us closer to an answer.
The Wet Autumn – 2000
In the 21st century, we have been made increasingly aware of climate change, global warming, and the geological age we live in.
The unprecedented ‘wet autumn’ of 2000 is an example of the rapid environmental change we face. In the Autumn of 2000, England, Wales and Northern Ireland faced such heavy rainfall that the Met Office quoted it the wettest Autumn on record.
The resultant flooding affected 10,000 homes and incurred an estimated £1 billion worth of damage, affecting less properties but incurring more cost than the 1947 flood.
The Rising Costs – 2015/2016 Floods
Storm Desmond struck the UK on December 5th, 2015. The Centre for Ecology and Hydrology recorded that December as both the wettest and the warmest since records began in 1910. According to The Centre For Ecology and Hydrology, this volatile weather caused peak river flows in England’s Tyne, Lune and Eden, resulting in a volume of water large enough to fill London’s Royal Albert Hall in less than a minute!
A resultant 16,000 properties were affected, with an insurance bill of £1.3 billion. What is becoming increasingly clear is the constant fluctuation and severity of our climate, which in turn seems to be responsible for the growing economic cost.
Historically speaking, our national flood defences have been unable to protect everyone, so it seems like it has been left to the individual to protect his or her property. To protect your own property from potential floods, shop online now for hessian sandbags from Weirbags.
