Emergency response timeline
Cockermouth floods 2009
TUESDAY NOVEMBER 17
All agencies aware of expected heavy rain and possible flooding at the end of the week.
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 18
Homes and businesses in Appleby prepare for flooding as the warning alarm goes off and they start to put up their defences.
The Met Office issues an ‘extreme’ weather warning for parts of Cumbria – flood warnings issued on Cumbrian rivers.
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 19
08.00: As rainfall intensifies police declare an ‘unusual incident’. Emergency
responders put on standby.
10.00: Evacuation takes place in parts of Keswick and elderly people in residential
homes are moved to safety.Some roads in Keswick and Kendal become
impassable.
11.00: Cockermouth School closes and children are sent home. The school’s Eco
Centre becomes a reception centre.
14.00: As the situation worsens the police declare a ‘major incident’ activating the
emergency response. Flood defences overtop in Keswick, Kendal and Cockermouth.
16:00: Gold command – involving all of the emergency services – is set up at police
headquarters in Penrith.
18.00: A freight train hits a tree on the West Coast Main Line near Southwaite after
a landslip. Train services between Oxenholme and Carlisle are suspended because of flooding and the rail crash.
19.30: Ulverston Victoria High School opens as a reception centre.
22.00: The Fire Service and RAF evacuates 200 people, via helicopter, from the Main Street and The Square areas of Cockermouth, which were cut off by flood water. They were moved to a reception centre at Cockermouth Secondary School.
United Utilities confirms 1,145 homes are without electricity in the Cockermouth area as well as 349 in Keswick.
Areas affected in Workington include New Hall, Barepot, the police station and homes nearby.
Stagecoach in Carlisle moves its buses from its Willowholme depot to the main bus station.
Four homes in Crosby-on-Eden flood along with the school.
Major rescue operation underway in Cockermouth and Keswick involving police, firemen, mountain rescue teams, RNLI, Lions, RAF and the Army.
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 20
01.00: Businesses in Willowholme, Carlisle, start to flood.
01.45: Water levels continue to rise in Cockermouth and Keswick.
04.00: Flood levels in Cockermouth and Keswick begin to stabilise.
05.12: Northside Bridge at Workington collapses. Police Officer reported missing.
06.50: The extreme force of the high waters passing under bridges is putting them
at risk of structural damage.
Lorton Bridge near Cockermouth has now collapsed as well as Southwaite footbridge in Cockermouth.
08.00: West Coast Main Line reopens and operates a reduced service.
09.00: Environment Secretary Hilary Benn arrives in Cockermouth to assess the
flood damage. River levels begin to drop except on Derwent and Eden.
10.00: Casualty bureau opens for the public to report concerns about family
members they have not heard from.
12.30: Missing policeman named as PC Bill Barker.
Evacuation of Cockermouth ongoing. More than 250 people sheltering in rescue centres in Cockermouth and Keswick.
Little Braithwaite Bridge near Keswick collapses as water is diverted across the A66 by rubble.
14.00: More than 1,400 homes are also without power in many areas.
Cumbria Community Foundation launches fundraising appeal to help flood victims.
15.00: Police confirm body found on beach is that of missing PC Bill Barker. Chief
Constable Craig Mackey, Prime Minister Gordon Brown, David Cameron and the Queen pay tribute to PC Barker and hundreds log onto Facebook to pay their respects.
Hilary Benn arrives in Carlisle to see the city’s flood defences.
17:00: Property searches ongoing in Cockermouth.
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 21
Prime Minister Gordon Brown visits Cockermouth to see first hand the devastation caused by flooding. He praises the work of the emergency services and volunteers and announces £1m of funding to help households and businesses. A further £1m is donated from the North West Development Agency.
Residents in Northside remain cut off from the rest of Workington. Concern grows for Calva Bridge in Workington as cracks appear in its structure.
1,800 bridges in Cumbria are checked for structural damage.
Many roads are closed and Papcastle Bridge in Cockermouth is closed – creating a diversion of over 40 miles from north to south Workington. Cumbria County Council holds the first meeting of the flood recovery group.
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 22
Safety of Calva Bridge still a concern.
20,000 sandbags distributed in Cockermouth and Keswick. Church congregations pray for flood hit families/businesses.
Chief Constable Craig Mackey visits PC Bill Barker’s family. All house to house searches completed in Cockermouth. Police report looting of vehicles at Kirkstone Pass.
Papcastle Bridge re-opens after checks carried out by structural engineers confirmed its safety.
MONDAY NOVEMBER 23
Homeowners and businesses in Cockermouth allowed back into their flooded properties for the first time.
Gold command scales down and Cumbria County Council takes formal responsibility for recovery.
Traffic chaos as people face a lengthy journey to work because of the bridges to Workington down. The A594 between Dearham and Dovenby struggles to cope with traffic.
Flood recovery fund raises £140,000 in 48 hours. Many bridges, roads, paths and schools remain closed.
Warning of more bad weather to come as rain batters Cumbria.
TUESDAY NOVEMBER 24
Reception centres close. David Cameron visits flood-hit Cockermouth and praises community spirit.
Businesses in Cockermouth set up new “shops” in Mitchells, the former Job Centre.
Clean-up operation continues in Keswick at Elliot Park and shops on Tithe Barn Street and homes in Crosthwaite area. Greta Bridge remains closed.
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 25
Transport Minister Sadiq Khan visits Workington to view the flood damage and talk about how the Department for Transport is assisting the area. Injections given to those involved in the clean-up and emergency services as health precaution.
Extra train services were laid on between Maryport and Workington after hundreds were left stranded at stations due to demand.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown pledges Government funds for a temporary bridge and railway station to help people stranded in Workington.
The county council warns 3,000 phone landlines would go and the mobile network could become congested if Calva Bridge collapsed.
Electricity is restored to all properties not directly affected by flooding. The eight-year-old daughter of PC Bill Barker thanks everyone for the tributes to her father with an open letter to the people of Cumbria.
West Lakes academy closed as tremors are felt in the tower block. Engineers were investigating whether it was due to ground movement caused by the wet weather.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26
The flood appeal topped £500,000.
Work continues on restoring Workington police station which officers hope to move back into over the weekend.
Preparations for the funeral of PC Bill Barker today which will have an escort of bikers and the Chief Constable leading the guard of honour.
