Flooding

Post by **Mike** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 8:34 am

What the smeg is going on with our summer? I really was surprised to see Tewkesbury Cathedral totally surrounded by water. I am quite glad I live in a very high bit of land away from major rivers now! ie not on a flood plane. This must be costing insurance billions - and I was shocked to hear we are apparently too proud to accept aid from the EU.

John Knight · Post by **John Knight** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 8:49 am

I keep seeing the caravan site we stayed on a few years ago in Tewkesbury. Now an effective marina.

Fez · Post by **Fez** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 10:30 am

i know the rain has been really bad, a month of rain fell on the severn valley in the space of an hour, but if you live on a flood plane should you really be that surprised? the clue is in the name of the area. no one builds on the sides of volcanoes just because its been quiet for a couple of years - except in florence of course, ah those crazy italians. sure there's a housing crisis, but building on any stretch of open land is bound to lead to trouble, especially when the damn place is called a flood plane to begin with. ive said it before and ill say it again - there's too many people on the planet. you wanna save the world? stop fucking for five minutes and invest in some contraceptives.

Post by **Mike** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 1:05 pm

It is something I don't recall ever seeing in England before, the fields are starting to look more like India than the Costwalds! :D

Post by **johnriley1uk** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 4:01 pm

Last saw this in 1964 when we were unable to return from Bristol for some days because of flooding.

I understand that prior to that the previous time was 1949.

It's not new, so don't think it's because of Climate Change!

mr_e · Post by **mr_e** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 4:47 pm

It's CLIMATE CHANGE at work! Run for the hills! In fairness to the environmentalists, anecdotal evidence of when it last flooded in Bristol isn't exactly conclusive either.

We're in a bit of a dilemma: we're seeing major demographic shifts to single-person households and increased economic migration, but this country's already quite densely populated in the first place. There's some tough choices to be made, probably involving a shedload of money being spent on flood defences.

Besides, people have always built in those areas, they just saw it as a trade-off between fertile land, easy trading, and the risk of unseasonally high water levels that destroyed crops and threatened to kill them all.

Post by **johnriley1uk** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 5:09 pm

My glasses fell apart yesterday, so instead of my usual trendy appearance I'm now sporting my old pair of very un-suave 1990s lack of style spectacles. What a spectacle.

I blame Climate Change! My glasses must have heated up and the joint melted....

(Just kidding...)

mr_e · Post by **mr_e** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 10:54 pm

They're more likely to have rusted off in this weather.

The BBC are now reporting that 250,000 people may have no electricity soon, as the Walham power station's at risk. So, possibly no power or fresh water. I'd not be a happy bunny, that's for sure.

Post by **Mike** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 8:09 am

That would be painful. I don't quite know how you would be able to go to work with no sanitation or elec. Lets be honest there is no point if you can't boot up the computer. That and your colleagues would be begging you to take a shower! :D

Lizzie · Post by **Lizzie** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 8:11 am

I feel very sorry for the people affected !!! It reminds me of the scenes in New Orleans a few years ago !! Saying that, at least our Government is doing something about it rather than leaving people to rot like the yankies !!

It must be devastating to see all your property and memories destroyed, and it makes me very glad that I live on a hill. I just hope that the insurance companies don't use any old excuse to weedle out of paying up !!

Post by **Mike** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 8:13 am

They will though, it is inevitable!

Post by **johnriley1uk** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 8:14 am

It'll make it even more important to select where we buy our houses very carefully. In Wales, some houses built half way up hills have found they were built on ancient, unknown streams and suddenly these have started flowing again - right through the house. It needs a bit of care.

As regards insurance companies, they will probably pay up, eventually, but might refuse to renew the poilicies in some cases. Then we are stuck.

John Knight · Post by **John Knight** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 10:21 am

you wouldn't believe how much convincing it took to get my insurers to drop the flood insurance off our house insurance.

We libve at the top yes the very brow of a larg hill. If i flood Manchester and the whole of the Cheshire plains will be under about 150ft of water. I doubt my carpets would be of any concern to the insurance sector.

Post by **Mike** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 3:05 pm

lol, that goes to show that they are really concerned. It would be impressive if your house flooded. I hope the flood insurance did not include damage by burst water main or summat!