St Jude's storm 2013 - UK

Name

St Jude’s storm

Where

UK

When

October 2013

Wind speeds

99mph

Causes of storm and affects

• caused by two contrasting weather fronts meeting over the UK

• it brought some heavy rainfall, but most damaging were the very strong winds which reached up to 99mph

Social impacts

• 6 killed - 3 by falling trees, 1 boy swept out to sea, 2 by gas explosion

• crane collapsed onto cabinet office

• double decker was rolled over by a gust of wind

• power cut in South East England across 660,000 homes (some for 2 days)

Economic impacts

• 130 flights cancelled from Heathrow and delays at Gatwick

• 5 train companies cancelled all their trains

• major bridges shut

• £1 billion loss from people not being able to go to work

• roads blocked from trees

Environmental

around 10 million trees are estimated to have died as a result of the storm

What impacts were worse

Economic - affected so many people, severe impacts, so many

Comparing to a similar storm

Impacts weren’t as severe as a previous storm

management strategies reducing risk

• The storm was carefully monitored by the UK Met Office and accurate forecasts were made days in advance. (7 days)

• The local council acted by clearing drains, readying people to standby, closed methods of transport (trains, planes and buses).

• Transport systems like trains and planes were cancelled to avoid accidents.

• People were told to avoid road travel and stay indoors

• Emergency services were alerted ready to act

• Many people had insurance to help pay for damage (£130 million paid out)

• Charities like the red cross helped people who were made homeless