Using a case study, explain the cause and effects of flooding.

On the 16th of August 2004, Boscastle, a small fishing village on the North coast of Cornwall, experienced one of the worst flash floods Britain has ever seen, 1 in 400 year flood. Two and a half miles up stream from Boscastle torrential rain started. Within the space of an hour 89 mm of rainfall was recorded, causing the capacity of the river to overflow. What didn't help matters was the steep valley in which the river Valency ran through into Boscastle, causing the rainwater to collect even quicker at the bottom of the valley. The river was too narrow and too shallow to hold the rain water causing the river banks to burst. What accelerated the rate of surface runoff was the fact that most of the ground was impermeable due to the slate found in the higher grounds. The prolonged rainfall over a period of 8 hours caused extensive damage; socially, economically and environmentally. When the storm had subsided the damage was clear to see, around a hundred cars were washed in to the local harbour, local businesses washed out and buildings damaged or completely destroyed. Fortunately not as many people were hurt, though they were distraught that their homes and lives had been destroyed. People were unable to work and get an income off the back of this and to make matters worse their insurance went up too, making it more expensive for them to live there. The tourist trade was effected immediately afterwards, people describing Boscastle as a ghost town. Trees and wildlife were uprooted and scattered across the river/sea bed. Since then Boscastle has introduced flood prevention strategies, such as channel straightening, deepening and widening, so that this chaotic event does not occur again.