#StormDesmond caused landslides which closed the main road, north-south, through Cumbria (A591) for months. Many trees in the pine forest surrounding Thirlmere were damaged.

#UnitedUtilities at the time had no requirement to prevent flooding, despite earlier serious flooding in the area, and were primarily focused on ensuring they preserved water in the reservoir to supply their customers.

/5

#Keswick’s newly installed flood defences were breached, and downstream hundreds of homes were flooded

The combination of the heavy rainfall through the autumn, heightened with #StormDesmond, and then in combination with the reservoir opening its overflow pipes caused massive disruption from the flooding, hundreds made homeless, and a massive £500 million cost to the economy.

4/

The Thirlmere reservoir, built in 1888 to supply Manchester (153km away) with water, is owned by the #UnitedUtilities a private water company and has an agreement to supply water to Manchester throughout the year.

At the time of #StormDesmond the reservoir was already at full capacity. It is reported that engineers were helicopted to the site to open ancient dam release valves, and the water pumping station was flooding.

2/

LONG POST ON #ELNINO / #FLOODING
As we hear of the effects of the #ClimateEmergency round the world, and see #flooding in #Norway I am reminded of #StormDesmond that hit #Cumbria between 5th & 6th Dec 2015. In 48 hours #Thirlmere in #LakeDistrict recorded 405mm of rainfall in combination with severe gales up to 81mph. This was an El Nino year.

It was the 4th major storm of the autumn. The ground and the lakes were already saturated.

#ClimateCrisis
#ClimateAction
#FloodPrevention
#Hydrology

More wonderful discoveries in the #Roman bath house at #Carlisle - a silver lining of #StormDesmond. Bath houses were obviously risky places to visit judging by the amount of stuff found in the drains! #archaeology https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-64458322

The Day After Desmond, Dec 6th 2015
#HighForce #Teesdale #StormDesmond

7 years today since #StormDesmond. #HaydonBridge with the river South Tyne at well above 4 metres. 6 feet of water in our cellar. New biomass boiler, freezer & contents written off. A day to remember.