General Chat

I'm watching the news about the floods in cumbria, and I'm saddened that 45 year-old PC Bill Barker has apparently lost his life after being swept off a bridge, which collapsed due to the force of floodwater, while trying to get members of the public off the bridge.

Now first of all, whatever possesses people to be watching rapid flood water from a bridge anyway? But further to that, the BBC helicopter showed pictues of other bridges, one had woman with her dog walking across it, with floodwater at a dangerous height, flowing underneath it? What was she doing? The police have said, keep away from bridges, they are vulnerable, yet still people go on them?

Unbelievable stupidity.

why do people continue to live in flood areas
i myself live up hill of the river tees

it beggers belief, i feel so much PC barkers family xxx

Stray, my thoughts are also with PC Barker's family and his colleagues, who are with them right now.

The homes affected are not new homes, it's an old village, so probably not as susceptible to flooding in the past. Apparently this is a one in a thousand years event there.

It's the building of new homes on known natural flood plains that concerns me most, and it's still going on.

So sad.
You get some silly people.They probably didnt realise it was so bad.

Marion

It's not like there wern't enough warning though Marion, and we've seen it all before in recent years, especially how much damage flood water can cause.

From what I hear, a lot of the problem is people coming to have a look, just being nosey, who don't actually live in the affected villages. They have blocked roads that emergency services need to use, and generally got in the way. As if they haven't got enough to do, police, fire and others have got to deal with nosey parkers too! This is why PC Barker was on the bridge in the first place.

They are saying on the news now, that people are still trying to drive their cars through the flood water, and getting stuck. DUH!!!

It beggars belief how thoughtless and stupid people can be doesn't it.

Joy I think people continue to live near rivers because it is only in recent years that bad flooding has occurred and now they are unable to sell their homes. People are so aware of the risk of flooding.

Human beings seem to have the mentality that it won't happen to me. They (We) take risks all the time, unfortunately this time an innocent person has lost his life.

My condolences go to his family and friends/colleagues.

As for houses been flooded, as TW says these are the type that have only started flooding long after being built. It's those that are built on flood plains and people still buy them that baffle me.

You really feel sory for the ones who have to pick up the pieces.
Looked a lovely little place. Never heard of before now though.

What often seems to happen, and happened in this area is, they build a new estate and it is the houses on the adjacent older estate that flood.

Barbara has a good point there. We are still relying on existing victorian drainage systems, and they just can't cope with the demands made on them these days.

Though to be fair, that wouldn't have stopped the devastastion today. That was the result of TWO rivers bursting their banks.

I'm a bit stupid:) It floods round here most years when the river bursts its bank and I always have to go and look at it. There's something about the majesty of water at its most powerful that I find totally mesmerising and awesome.

I've heard that before Ann about drains etc. more houses same drains. Even flood barriers..the water still has to go some place.So anew area gets flooded.

Marion

*Agrees with Uggers*

;-)

It's not so much the 'taking a look' but to be standing on a bridge, espeicially when the water is very high and rapid, surely common sense tells you that, as one bridge has already collapsed, the one you're standing on is vulnerable too? When the police are on TV and radio telling people to stay away from bridges while the water is so high, then you see a woman taking her dog for a walk across one, with the water almost to the top of the arches....beggars belief.

Secondly, again 'taking a look' while bearing in mind there is a massive rescue operation going on and emergency services nearby, you have to be aware that you could be in the way?

I'll agree, there is something amazing about the power of nature at times like this, and it is awesome to watch, but safety first...surely?

I stay well away from flood water, you never know where it is going next

One of the things about lookers on, is that as the waters go down they insist on driving through the water to see the damage. This sends the water further up the walls of house than it would have been, and if you are trying to control the damage in your house it is insufferable. Been there twice in one winter in 1959.

That's another point I didn't think of Jean.

When there are personal disasters anywhere, whether it's flood, fire, storms, snow or whatever, people don't need an audience.