Flooding in South Worcestershire
Feb. 16th, 2014 11:24 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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common_nature(Note: I didn't take any of these caps but I have credited as many as possible. Please click through to flickr for further information or ask me in comments.)
The flood defences built in Worcester (pop. c.100,000) and the surrounding area, especially Upton upon Severn and Bewdley, after the record floods of July 2007 have worked despite new record high river levels in the Severn and Teme but there were only a few centimetres to spare and there are about 50 homes flooded in Worcester, mostly around the suburb of Diglis (I think?), with more in the wider local area. The fastest/largest flow/volume of water through the centre of the city was about 500 metric tonnes per second under Worcester bridge (built 1781 and 1841). The only road bridge and both pedestrian bridges in the city were all closed at least temporarily but the Carrington Bridge across the Severn, for the bypass south of the city, remained open. It’s invidious to pick out one token worker or act of bravery but, for example, at one point two Western Power electricity workers waded through three feet of fast flowing water to fix a flooded electrical substation.
The flood defences at Upton upon Severn (pop. c.3,000) held but all the roads flooded and Upton temporarily became an island, albeit an island with a shuttle "bus" service using a special high-axle vehicle (access by stepladder!) provided and driven by the Armed Services.
The adjustable and the temporary flood defences at Bewdley (pop. c.9000). These are withstanding not only the weight of the water but also having tree trunks &c smashed into them by the river.
One of the weirdest problems with this flooding is that even where there’s no surface water the ground is saturated so any hole immediately fills with water… which makes burying the dead unfeasible.
Oh, and while people in other parts of the country might complain about the Environment Agency, Worcester people have set up fan clubs on twitter and facebook for one of our local EA managers @DaveThroupEA as a token show of respect to him and his fellow workers.
The flood defences built in Worcester (pop. c.100,000) and the surrounding area, especially Upton upon Severn and Bewdley, after the record floods of July 2007 have worked despite new record high river levels in the Severn and Teme but there were only a few centimetres to spare and there are about 50 homes flooded in Worcester, mostly around the suburb of Diglis (I think?), with more in the wider local area. The fastest/largest flow/volume of water through the centre of the city was about 500 metric tonnes per second under Worcester bridge (built 1781 and 1841). The only road bridge and both pedestrian bridges in the city were all closed at least temporarily but the Carrington Bridge across the Severn, for the bypass south of the city, remained open. It’s invidious to pick out one token worker or act of bravery but, for example, at one point two Western Power electricity workers waded through three feet of fast flowing water to fix a flooded electrical substation.
The flood defences at Upton upon Severn (pop. c.3,000) held but all the roads flooded and Upton temporarily became an island, albeit an island with a shuttle "bus" service using a special high-axle vehicle (access by stepladder!) provided and driven by the Armed Services.
The adjustable and the temporary flood defences at Bewdley (pop. c.9000). These are withstanding not only the weight of the water but also having tree trunks &c smashed into them by the river.
One of the weirdest problems with this flooding is that even where there’s no surface water the ground is saturated so any hole immediately fills with water… which makes burying the dead unfeasible.
Oh, and while people in other parts of the country might complain about the Environment Agency, Worcester people have set up fan clubs on twitter and facebook for one of our local EA managers @DaveThroupEA as a token show of respect to him and his fellow workers.
