How are people affected by flooding?

Imagine the following people lived or worked at a property on the banks of the River Severn and that flooding did occur.

For each example make a list of :

Mr Ron Cowley

Livestock farmer near Leighton. Ron has 32 dairy cows, 80 beef, and 180 sheep. Farmhouse, outbuildings and milking parlour. Up to now the farmhouse has not been flooded, but some outbuildings and lower fields next to the river have.

Mr and Mrs H. Warburton

Small scale cereal farmer. Nine large fields near Buildwas Abbey including four next to the river Severn. Crops grown include sugar beet, turnips, potatoes, barley, wheat and oilseed rape.

The farmhouse itself has not been flooded in the past but if river levels ever did rise in the future there would be a problem. The four riverside fields flood regularly.

Miss Claudine Chalet

French owner of a small caravan site next to the river Severn. There are 11 large static vans and licenced space for 27 touring vans. Camping also takes place. There is a small toilet and shower block. The land is very flat and often very muddy except in summer.

Dave Gasket

Garage owner in Ironbridge at the junction of High Street and the Coalbrookdale Road.

Dave owns a repair garage, and 3 coaches that are used for daily school bus runs, trips and tourist bus tours particularly at weekends. The road out of his garage can flood directly from the river or by old storm drains overflowing during and after very heavy rainfall.

Peter Foster

Restaurant and pub owner. Peter’s public house is on the south bank of the river Severn just east of Ironbridge. It is located in the gorge just above the river. It is busy all  the year and there are lots of customers. In the summer months it is a honeypot tourist attraction. Past flood levels and dates are painted on his front door.

Tracey Furley

Owner of Merryfur Teddybear factory. Though not all the teddybears are made there she does sell large numbers in her shop and to other retail outlets and stores in the country. 30% of the factory next to the river can be flooded when the river is high. The shop is a tourist attraction. One problem, is the need for as much storage space as possible, particularly prior to Christmas and Easter.

H.A.W.Frost

A retired geography teacher. He recently purchased an old Victorian cottage very cheaply on the bank of the Severn in the gorge area near Jackfields. It is a very quiet and picturesque spot.

Following a serious flood last year just after he moved in, he is very worried about the future consequences of  a flood.

Mrs S.Starr

Owner of a newsagents and gift shop in the centre of Ironbridge on the High Street. Nearly every year in the last 20 he has experienced floods. There have even been 2 floods in one year and each flood causes extensive damage and disruption.

 

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