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The 2008 Morpeth Floods Preliminary findings from the MICRODIS Project

The 2008 Morpeth Floods Preliminary findings from the MICRODIS Project. Maureen Fordham BSc, PgDip, PhD Northumbria University School of Applied Sciences Geography & Environmental Management Maureen.fordham@northumbria.ac.uk.

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The 2008 Morpeth Floods Preliminary findings from the MICRODIS Project

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  1. The 2008 Morpeth FloodsPreliminary findings from the MICRODIS Project Maureen Fordham BSc, PgDip, PhD Northumbria University School of Applied Sciences Geography & Environmental Management Maureen.fordham@northumbria.ac.uk

  2. What we will look at this evening - Morpethflood causes, impacts, management strategies • Introduction to the MICRODIS Project • Introduction to the Morpeth flood of 6th September 2008 • Flood Causes (physical and human) • Flood Impacts • Social impacts • Health impacts • Economic impacts • Flood Management Strategies • Structural • Non structural • Conclusions, References and Links • NB: This is a preliminary dataset and analysis. Statistical tests have not yet been undertaken • We will make the presentation available to you – there is too much detail for you to write it all down now!

  3. Introduction to the MICRODIS Project

  4. . Information given in this presentation reflects the authors' views only. The Community is not liable for any use that may be made of the information contained therein. • An Integrated Project funded under the EU Sixth Framework Programme(Thematic Priority 6.3 Global Change and Ecosystems (Contract number GOCE-CT-2007- 036877)) • Thanks also to the Environment Agency for support • The goal of MICRODIS is to • strengthen preparedness, mitigation and prevention strategies to reduce the health, social and economic impacts of extreme events on communities • It examines the social, health and economic impacts of earthquakes, floods and storms in Europe and Asia • Developing methods & tools • 17+ partners from 8+ countries

  5. The UK MICRODIS Morpeth research study • To date: • Quantitative - 236 questionnaires completed so far • Qualitative – 28 interviews so far • Community engagement – meetings, talks, discussions with local people, action groups, responders, policymakers • Forthcoming: • More of everything!

  6. An example of what we do: Getting children involved Assembly talk in Morpeth • A puppet film on floods • Practising putting together an “Emergency Go Bag” • A quiz to ensure that they understood the key safety messages

  7. Our sample so far – not representative • The sample is largely female (62% female) - and aged over 65 - our oldest respondent was 91 – and retired • The majority of our respondents live in one or two person households (52% and 33% respectively) – so families with children are under-represented • Most people (65%) own their own homes (either outright or with a mortgage) • But a quarter of respondents live in social (e.g. Housing Association) rather than private properties • Two thirds of respondents had lived in Morpeth itself for over 20 years (half for over 30 years) • A third of respondents had lived in their (flooded) property for over 20 years

  8. Introduction to the Morpeth flood of 6th September 2008

  9. Morpeth Background Information • Morpeth - ancient market town situated in a loop of the river Wansbeck in the northeast of England about 15 miles north of Newcastle upon Tyne and 12 miles west from the North Sea. • Administrative centre for the County Council. • The physical form of the town with its existing street patterns was established in mediaeval times. • Morpeth's motto is “Inter Sylvas et Flumina Habitans” - "Living amid the Woods and Waters"

  10. Morpeth, Northumberland & location in the UK Source: Edina Digimap

  11. The September 2008 flood • Morpeth experienced a severe flood on 6 and 7 September 2008 • The flood is currently estimated to have been a 1 in 115 year event (EA pers. Comm. 27.11.2009) – a statistical average only • Prolonged rainfall coincided with the flood peak from higher areas of the catchment • A peak water level of 3.99 metres was recorded in the river channel, the biggest flow ever recorded in the Wansbeck • The huge volume of water caused the drainage system to back up, plus Oldgate Bridge obstructed the flow • Early data said 1012 properties flooded in Morpeth town centre • 913 residential; 89 commercial • This number could change a little • 400+ rescues including by boat and helicopter • During peak periods, Northumberland Fire & Rescue Service was dealing with a 999 emergency call every 40 seconds.

  12. Morpeth went from this...

  13. To this...

  14. Flood Causes - physical

  15. The Wansbeck Catchment Area (Adapted from: EA, 2005) Morpeth lies in the Wansbeck catchment area, a relatively small river catchment that covers 331km2. The main reach of the Wansbeck has an active flood plain that is between 100m to 300m wide and the town itself is located within this floodplain. (EA, 2005). The river has three main tributaries: the Font, the Hart Burn and the Wansbeck itself. The three rivers combine just west of the A1 before flowing through the town. In Morpeth itself, the Wansbeck is joined by several small tributaries, namely, Cotting Burn, Church Burn and Postern Burn.

  16. Further brief physical characteristics • The dominant soil types are slowly permeable and clayey (surface water gley) • Poorly drained and seasonally waterlogged causing rapid runoff in winter • Morpeth - at the confluence of a number of rivers with relatively high gradients, draining into flat, low lying area around Morpeth  may be susceptible to deposition • River highly sinuous in Morpeth potentially sensitive to erosion/deposition problems

  17. Flood risk characteristics - Wansbeck catchment • Main sources of flooding = extremes in rainfall and snowmelt • Minor contributions from impenetrable (paved) surfaces and ageing municipal drainage networks (on average 56% of precipitation is converted to surface runoff) • There are more than 1300 properties located directly on the floodplain • Most Morpeth floods occur in winter - ground saturated and runoff increased • Also summer floods due to localised summer storm events can cause localised flooding, independent of Wansbeck river levels • Reliable historical data since 1839 - 18 flood events recorded • Previous largest Morpeth flood event = March 1963 due to unexpectedly rapid snowmelt • 503 properties (482 residential) flooded. • The return period of that event was estimated at 1 in 60 years event • Sources: EA, 2005; JBA, 2009; EA, pers. comm., 2009

  18. Background to the floods – ‘too much rain’ • Britain experienced an exceptionally wet summer • June to August – monthly rainfall totals were significantly higher than the long term average • July rainfall 2 times the long term monthly average • August had 1½ times the average • Some catchments had wettest June to September since 1914 • Several catchments were completely saturated in early September, led to widespread flooding across the North East of England between 5th to 7th September • Courtesy, Environment Agency

  19. September 2008 % of average (1971-2000 average) Rainfall (mm) 4th to 6th September 2008 Catchments then reacted almost as if they were concrete with immediate runoff to streams and rivers

  20. Rainfall 4-6 September with return period and percentage monthly average (Courtesy EA)

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