Friday 6 December 2013

"Dodged a Bullet"

Hornsea Mere, East Yorkshire just before sunset
I've posted three pictures I have taken this last week or so as the mellow late autumn weather gave us some lovely entertainment with its spectacular sunsets and early morning views across the countryside.

This is in stark contrast to the weather we have experienced in the UK on Thursday 5th December 2013 which brought devastating storm force winds and surge tides last night across most of the North Sea and parts of some other coasts.

A lovely sunset over West Hull, this scene attracted photos from all over the city on social media that night
Because I am on rising ground to the Wolds, the surge waters did not affect me and the high winds seemed to have caused little substantial damage, I was lucky. Others have not been so. In the village where I live, properties on the front of the Humber have been badly flooded by unprecedented high tides accompanied by a surge over and above the tide caused by storm winds and low pressure down the east coast of the country pushed water over barriers and embankments which would at any other time cope admirably.

Misty fields near where I work one chill morning last week.
Major roads into Hull which run parallel to the Humber were washed out, city centre streets in Hull were under water resulting in much disruption, traffic chaos and of course deep upsetment to individuals whose property has been devastated by muddy, foul water. Other areas around the Humber Basin in Lincolnshire too were badly affected with whole villages being evacuated.

Unlike the rains that affected most people in this area in 2007, this was different and more unsettling. This was mother nature at her most forceful and there was nothing anyone could do. The power of the sea is unrivalled.  In recent years, flood defences have improved in most places and without this, the effects would have been multiplied many times over.

But it could have been worse. The phrase "dodged a bullet" was coined by a local BBC radio Humberside presenter this morning who rightly observed that the effects were close to having been a  national disaster were it not for the work of the emergency services and local agencies and the public's good spirit. A second predicted damaging tide this morning did not produce any more flooding thank goodness.  BBC provided local information on the radio that was both useful and the reporting was powerful and frightening at the same time - but at least the public were informed.

Chat soon

Ta-ra

6 comments:

  1. So beautiful, you're very talented at photography x

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  2. How were the waves at Flamborough, did you hear? I'll take a look at the Brid Free Press, but they went to print before the storm I think.

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  3. Great photos.... we've been having such pretty pastely sunrises to the front, and pure gold sunsets to the back of the house. Our old friend lives in a large house with grounds going down to the rail track and Humber, wonder how he got on? But good to hear you were OK, as were we, but villages further round the coast didn't come off as lightly, and the town to the south of us was flooded in the quay area. Once again, we seemed to miss the worst, thank goodness.

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  4. Hi AntieGwen
    Delighted to hear from you. Hope you are well? Photos are not bad for a point and shoot are they?
    XX

    Hi Chris
    I think Flamborough wasn't too bad, I think Bridlington however got a lot of flooding in the harbour area.
    XX

    Hi Edwina
    Thank you
    I dont think any flooding went over the rail track which is quite high, as you walk alongside it on the Humber Bank, you actually look up at the trains. Having said that they did suspend services along that stretch of road on Thursday. xx

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  5. Yes RLS it was pretty bad along that coast wasn't it. I am old enough to remember the disastrous floods along the Lincolnshire coast in the late 40's or 50's I think, when many folk died. Although this time quite a few houses have been washed away. Like you, we experienced nothing serious up here.

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  6. Hi Weaver - 1953, I think we were quite lucky, had there been rain too, I wonder if it had could have been different. I was driving the motorways on Thursday from Hull to Scunthorpe and the Humber Bridge closed to ALL vehicles twice I think. Lorries were really struggling.
    XX

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