Floods in South East England

Date
Flooding began on the night of October 10, 2000. It lasted for about 2 weeks.

Location
The floods happened along many rivers in Kent and Sussex. The water level in the rivers was high because there had been a lot of rain. The water flowed over the river banks in the villages of Yalding, Smarden, Headcorn, Lamberhurst and Peckham. The towns of Maidstone and Tonbridge were flooded. Lewes in Sussex was also flooded.

Cause
There had been over 15 cm rainfall in one week. It had been a wet summer in South East England, and the water level in the rivers was already rather high. The rain which fell from October 10 to October 13 drained into the rivers. The rivers could not take this much. The water flowed over the banks and onto farmland, town centres, roads and into houses. People were worried that the high tide on the River Medway would bring more flooding to Maidstone and the surrounding area.

Effects

• Agricultural land was flooded and crops were destroyed. Some of the land near Yalding is still too wet to plant crops for this year.

• Lots of rubbish such as tree branches and crisp packets got stuck behind the bridge in Maidstone. The water level was as high as the bridge arch.

• Houses were flooded.

• Furniture, carpets and electrical items were damaged.

• Some people were trapped in the top floor of their homes by the flood waters. They had to be rescued by the emergency services.

• Pets were frightened by the flood waters.

• Roads were completely under water.

• Some people couldn't get to work because of the floods.

• Some children couldn't go to school because their school was flooded.

• Restaurants such as the Malta Inn in Maidstone had to close because they were flooded.

• The lock gates at Allington had to be opened to let the extra water pass through.

• There has been millions of pounds worth of damage done to Kent and Sussex because of the flooding.

• People's possessions were waterlogged.

• Some people used boats to travel along the streets.

• Many people went into Maidstone town centre to look at the flooded areas.

• Subways in Maidstone were flooded.

• Parts of the Court Building in Maidstone were flooded.

   

  The flooded court house in Maidstone	The flooded subway

  Precautions taken

• Sandbags were put outside houses to try to stop water from getting in.

• Some people in Yalding were evacuated during the floods. They went to stay with relatives.

• Sandbags were put outside some shops in Maidstone.

• Rivers were put on flood alert. Reports were given out on the news and radio to tell people where rivers might flood.

• Flood road signs were put out.

  Sandbags outside shops	The opened flood gates at Allington