The 2009 Cumbrian floods were caused by extremely heavy rainfall over a short period of time, with some areas receiving over 31 cm of rain in 24 hours. This extreme rainfall overwhelmed the drainage systems and caused rivers, including the Derwent and Cocker, to burst their banks. Over 1,300 homes were flooded and damaged, businesses were affected, bridges and roads were damaged, and one person died. The flooding had long-term economic and social impacts on the region. Since then, flood management strategies have been put in place, such as new flood walls, river dredging, and raised embankments, to help mitigate future flooding risks in the area.

1. 2009 Cumbrian floods
AQA spec:
A recent extreme weather event in the UK to
illustrate:
● causes
● social, economic and environmental impacts
● how management strategies can reduce risk.

2. 2009 Cumbrian floods - causes
Human Physical
1. Urbanisation—Cockermouth and Keswick ↑ amount
of impermeable surfaces → ↑ runoff → ↑ discharge in
rivers
1. Blocked Sewers— sewers to backup → flooding
incidents, e.g. Elliot Park in Keswick.
1. Dredging—The river had not been dredged for many
years ↓ river’s carrying capacity → floods
1. Rain
Very high volume 31.4cm, over a 24-hour
2. What caused all the rain?
a. “Warm Conveyor” - warm air
from the mid-Atlantic - common in the UK during
autumn and winter - warm air holds more moisture!
b. Orographic rainfall – air forced
to rise over highland of Cumbrian Mountains
3. Additional causes of the Cumbrian Floods?
a. Ground already saturated →
surface runoff straight into the rivers
b. The steep slopes → runoff very
rapidly into the rivers
c. The rivers Derwent and Cocker
= already bankful with previous rainfall

3. 2009 Cumbrian floods - impacts
● >1300 homes flooded &
contaminated with sewage
● Many people evacuated, including
50 by helicopter from Cockermouth
town centre
● Many businesses flooded → long-
term negative local and regional
multiplier effect
● At least 1 year for some to move
back into flood-damaged homes.
● £28,000 per house to repair
damage
● Final cost for insurance companies
= £100 million
● 4 bridges collapsed + 12 were
closed
○ Workington → cut in 2 as all
bridges claosed or damaged
● One man died– PC Bill Barker

4. 2009 Cumbrian floods - management to reduce risk
Responses to the flood
The UK Government;
a. provided £1 million to help with the clean-up
and repairs
b. agreed to pay for road and bridge repairs in
Cumbria
The Cumbria Flood Recovery Fund set up to help victims
- £1 million in 10 days
Network Rail opened a temporary railway station in
Workington
‘Visit Cumbria’ website provided lists of recovery services
and trades, and people who could provide emergency
accommodation
Management of future floods at Cockermouth
£4.4 million management scheme
New flood defence walls will halt the spread of the river
Funding from Government and local contributors
River dredged more regularly to deepen the channel
New embankments raise the channel height to reduce the
likelihood of extra floods
New floodgates at the back of houses in Waterloo street

5. EXAM QUESTIONS
‘The weather of the UK is becoming more extreme.’ Use evidence to support this
statement. [6 marks]

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