Climate Change Increases Risk of Severe Flooding
Whether you believe that global warming is affecting our planet or not, the facts are clear and sea levels are rising at an alarming rate.
The floods of recent times are enough to dispel ‘extreme weather’ as scare mongering and more and more procedures are being put into place to ensure that people are going to be safe from flooding.
A recent focus has been on the River Darent in Seven Oaks. It states that in a little over 40 years if there were to be a flood, the River would burst its banks as there would be 20 per cent more water running through it in such a deluge.
Summers are getting hotter and drier and Winters are warmer and wetter, so we have to ensure that these changes to our climate are being properly managed and judged or we could be caught out by natures force.
With 1,146 homes dotted up and down the bank of the River Darent, an unprecedented flood could have widespread consequences.
The changes to our climate mean that problems with the weather could be more severe and will occur more often. Extreme weather conditions will be more frequent and rainfall for one, will be heavier which means that the soil will not have a chance to absorb it so instead it will run into rivers, causing flooding.
When the Darent burst its banks back in 2003, water poured through the town of Brasted bringing down businesses, coming up through drains and creeping into homes through vents and leaving in its wake, a trail of destruction, misery and a large repairs bill.
One woman remarked on her experience of flooding and how you just do not expect quite the extent of mess that ‘a bit of water’ causes. Water came up through her drains and much of the water included raw sewage. Understandably the carpets all had to be replaced and she and her family were put through around 4 weeks of disruption.
Thankfully flood defences are now in place, costing around £1 million covering 200metres of the river. Additional walls have been built to protect homes and businesses by pushing the water into neighbouring fields and away from busy areas of the town. Other people will still be at risk, but the local authorities have to prioritise by which areas are at most risk economically.
Anyone that has been affected by flooding will understand the why flood protection is more vital now than ever before.
If you have been affected by flooding and need to speak to someone about your insurance claim, then ring AKA Assisted Claims to talk to a loss assessor about how we can get you the best settlement.
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