Rain stop play
Hi
Near where I live a lot of houses and businesses have been flooded as two major storms have hit the Calder Valley the last two weekends. This is the third time in 10 years that the Calder Valley has been flooded. The last two have been serious with many people been displaced, which is not a good feeling. The boxing day flood of 2015 caused serve damage, where in Mytholmroyd they experience water levels over 4m in height. This was and still is the highest level experienced. This is only 11 miles from my home.
Don't worry about me as I live 170m above sea level and it will take epic biblical floods for my house to be under water. I remember that day so well as the water table was so high that water was coming out from the back of my garage.
After the 2015 floods people was outraged and flood defenses was promised and partially built. Two weeks ago a vicious storm hit and produces over 100mm of rainfall in 24hours. It totally overwhelmed the flood defense system and town and villages over the valley were once again flooded .
There was 2 problems; the flood defences where no complete and the amount of rainfall was very high. A lethal cocktail. 3 years in the undertaking and still the defences was not complete. Why?
Because the original contractor made a serious mistake and a new contractor had to rectify the mistake. I do not think they would have matter, as the amount of rainfall was too large.
For those who do not know the terrain. The valley has some steep hills above them that funnel rainwater to the rivers and the water level can rise very quickly.
What is your flood defense on your business? Can it cope if a deluge is forecast?
Thanks and stay safe. It has been a wet February here in the UK.
Antonio
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We have some flooding here in the US too. I feel bad for some of these people. I can NOT imagine anything happening to my house like that. Glad you're safe and are able to work.
Hey Antonio,
Glad you're ok.
I'm in Manchester this week but my house is in Abertillery, in the South Wales valleys. My town is 1000 feet up and every house that happens to be in a dip in the other towns down the valley has been flooded.
The road into my town is closed for at least the next two months because it's slipping down the mountain and likely to land on the railway and road in the valley bottom.
The railway track to Cardiff has been washed away, as has the track at Abergavenny, at the gateway to the valleys.
It's insane. But no flood defences because, well, we live on a mountain. And more rain forecast this weekend, I believe.
I don't know what the answer is, but I wish the Government and local authorities had an idea!
Good luck to everyone dealing with the effects of climate change, wherever you are. From a business point of view, it might be worth considering some insurance if you haven't already!
Stay safe,
Trey
Wales has had it bad and my heart goes out to them. It is difficult to control and most people cannot get insurance. If they do the excess will too high. The solution is simple do not build on the flood plain.
@Apachowko1 In terms of insurance, you're absolutely right - I was meaning insurance for us guys!
And not building on flood plains would certainly be a start! More difficult in the valleys - build on the valley floor and you get floods, build into the mountainside and you get subsidence...
Luckily here in Devon on the coast, flood water is quick to run into the sea. Especially with it being so hilly.
BUT spring tides coupled with rain... that's a different story lol.
Floods never are, Antonio--I've been through a few in my lifetime--one in 1993 when two story houses only had the roofs poking out of the water!
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It is true that when our house is destroyed by this kind of natural event. People really have a feeling of having a part of their life that is completely devastated. Then they must find the strength to rebuild everything for their lives to continue.
Ingrid