Today is the tenth anniversary of the devastating #StormDesmond

Too much of the response has been only a defensive-reactive formation: adaptation which is not strategic, and may thus turn out to be fragilising, maladaptation.

Unless we adapt strategically, such disasters WILL repeat, and worse.

Change in the way insurance works needs to be a big part of this strategic shift.

Please share our film and help highlight this issue.

#StormDesmond caused landslides which closed the main road, north-south, through Cumbria (A591) for months. Many trees in the pine forest surrounding Thirlmere were damaged.

#UnitedUtilities at the time had no requirement to prevent flooding, despite earlier serious flooding in the area, and were primarily focused on ensuring they preserved water in the reservoir to supply their customers.

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#Keswick’s newly installed flood defences were breached, and downstream hundreds of homes were flooded

The combination of the heavy rainfall through the autumn, heightened with #StormDesmond, and then in combination with the reservoir opening its overflow pipes caused massive disruption from the flooding, hundreds made homeless, and a massive £500 million cost to the economy.

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The Thirlmere reservoir, built in 1888 to supply Manchester (153km away) with water, is owned by the #UnitedUtilities a private water company and has an agreement to supply water to Manchester throughout the year.

At the time of #StormDesmond the reservoir was already at full capacity. It is reported that engineers were helicopted to the site to open ancient dam release valves, and the water pumping station was flooding.

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