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| T'was ever thus - facing down the floods in 1953God, climate change and the government are among those in the firing line for this summer's floods, but nature is the key culprit, says Frank Furedi. History shows the British are well equipped to face down this foe. | T'was ever thus - facing down the floods in 1953God, climate change and the government are among those in the firing line for this summer's floods, but nature is the key culprit, says Frank Furedi. History shows the British are well equipped to face down this foe. |
| We were very lucky, the flooding stopped a few feet away from our cottage in Wellesbourne in Warwickshire. "Isn't it time we went back to church and prayed" a relative asked one of our other "lucky" friends. | We were very lucky, the flooding stopped a few feet away from our cottage in Wellesbourne in Warwickshire. "Isn't it time we went back to church and prayed" a relative asked one of our other "lucky" friends. |
| Even in the 21st Century we find it difficult not to invest misfortune and tragedy with a hidden message. Most of us cannot accept the fact that disasters, especially floods are very natural. They are as much a part of the British way of life as football, warm beer and Big Ben. | Even in the 21st Century we find it difficult not to invest misfortune and tragedy with a hidden message. Most of us cannot accept the fact that disasters, especially floods are very natural. They are as much a part of the British way of life as football, warm beer and Big Ben. |
| Just last week scientific researchers reported that we became an island hundreds of thousands of years ago when a catastrophic "megaflood" separated Britain from France. | Just last week scientific researchers reported that we became an island hundreds of thousands of years ago when a catastrophic "megaflood" separated Britain from France. |
| href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/magazine_enl_1185279489/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/magazine_enl_1185279489/html/1.stm', '1185279717', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=389,height=628,left=312,top=100'); return false;">The scene in 1607 href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/magazine_enl_1185279489/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/magazine_enl_1185279489/html/1.stm', '1185279717', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=389,height=628,left=312,top=100'); return false;" >Enlarge Image If you think today we have more than our share of floods, imagine living in Windsor during the late Victorian times. You would have been forced to clear the water from your house in 1869, 1872, 1875, 1891 and 1894. | |
| Of course floods are catastrophic events that inflict destruction on communities and wreak havoc with the lives of individuals. But although words like "the worst in living memory" trip off our tongues, thankfully we have not been forced to face a truly calamitous event such as the flood of 1953. More than 300 people drowned in that disaster in south-east England. | Of course floods are catastrophic events that inflict destruction on communities and wreak havoc with the lives of individuals. But although words like "the worst in living memory" trip off our tongues, thankfully we have not been forced to face a truly calamitous event such as the flood of 1953. More than 300 people drowned in that disaster in south-east England. |
| Human beings find it difficult to accept the fact that although fortunately disasters are infrequent they are part of normal life. From the beginning of time people have asked questions like "why me?", "what does it mean?" and "who is to blame?". | Human beings find it difficult to accept the fact that although fortunately disasters are infrequent they are part of normal life. From the beginning of time people have asked questions like "why me?", "what does it mean?" and "who is to blame?". |
| Back in 1864 when almost 250 people died in the aftermath of the flood of Bradfield Reservoir near Doncaster, a churchman, Thomas Hughes, expressed the hope that although "we cannot remedy the past" we "may carry lessons of wisdom to the future". | Back in 1864 when almost 250 people died in the aftermath of the flood of Bradfield Reservoir near Doncaster, a churchman, Thomas Hughes, expressed the hope that although "we cannot remedy the past" we "may carry lessons of wisdom to the future". |
| But how much have we learned? | But how much have we learned? |
| God's response | God's response |
| Some regard a disaster as an opportunity to score a moral point. The Bishop of Carlisle decided to turn the flood into a cautionary tale about the perils of immorality. He argued earlier month that the floods are God's response to the immorality and greed of our society." | Some regard a disaster as an opportunity to score a moral point. The Bishop of Carlisle decided to turn the flood into a cautionary tale about the perils of immorality. He argued earlier month that the floods are God's response to the immorality and greed of our society." |
| Communities in Britain often respond to floods with gestures of solidarity and generosity rather than stealing from one another Frank Furedi Floods: At-a-glance We are in serious moral trouble because every type of lifestyle is now regarded as legitimate," he warned. Others have rushed in pointing the finger human induced global warming, whilst others still are happy to blame the government. | Communities in Britain often respond to floods with gestures of solidarity and generosity rather than stealing from one another Frank Furedi Floods: At-a-glance We are in serious moral trouble because every type of lifestyle is now regarded as legitimate," he warned. Others have rushed in pointing the finger human induced global warming, whilst others still are happy to blame the government. |
| How we make sense of a disaster has a crucial impact on the way that a community experiences its misfortune. That is why experts, the media and public figures have to ensure that their statements are not alarmist or confusing. | How we make sense of a disaster has a crucial impact on the way that a community experiences its misfortune. That is why experts, the media and public figures have to ensure that their statements are not alarmist or confusing. |
| A headline such as "Looting, panic buying - and a water shortage", from yesterday's Times does little to encourage morale. Such headlines say more about the imagination of the author than what's going on in the affected communities. Especially when this story was about the "threat of looting" rather than crimes that have actually occurred. | A headline such as "Looting, panic buying - and a water shortage", from yesterday's Times does little to encourage morale. Such headlines say more about the imagination of the author than what's going on in the affected communities. Especially when this story was about the "threat of looting" rather than crimes that have actually occurred. |
| In fact, experience shows that communities in Britain often respond to floods with gestures of solidarity and generosity rather than stealing from one another. | In fact, experience shows that communities in Britain often respond to floods with gestures of solidarity and generosity rather than stealing from one another. |
| Dunkirk/Blitz spirit in abundant supplyThankfully disasters have the potential to bring out the best in people. Back in 1953 observers were struck by the resilience and fortitude of flood-stricken communities. A report on this experience written by an American research team emphasised the robust and resilient character of the community's response to the floods. The American researchers claimed that "the culture of the British is itself a conditioning factor for playing an effective role under disaster conditions". | Dunkirk/Blitz spirit in abundant supplyThankfully disasters have the potential to bring out the best in people. Back in 1953 observers were struck by the resilience and fortitude of flood-stricken communities. A report on this experience written by an American research team emphasised the robust and resilient character of the community's response to the floods. The American researchers claimed that "the culture of the British is itself a conditioning factor for playing an effective role under disaster conditions". |
| Will a team of researchers reach a similar verdict on how flood stricken communities in Gloucestershire or Bedfordshire deal with their predicament today? Or will they report that many individuals and communities were afflicted by a sense of bitterness or hopelessness. | Will a team of researchers reach a similar verdict on how flood stricken communities in Gloucestershire or Bedfordshire deal with their predicament today? Or will they report that many individuals and communities were afflicted by a sense of bitterness or hopelessness. |
| It is never clear in advance just how communities will deal with life in the aftermath of a flood. The good news is that research shows people possess formidable potential for dealing with catastrophes. | It is never clear in advance just how communities will deal with life in the aftermath of a flood. The good news is that research shows people possess formidable potential for dealing with catastrophes. |
| Floods and other disaster destroy physical and financial capital. But not relations between people and their networks - what's often called social capital. | Floods and other disaster destroy physical and financial capital. But not relations between people and their networks - what's often called social capital. |
| Even truckloads of goodwill can't offset the trauma of being floodedIndeed, unlike any other form of capital - social capital can actually increase at a time of crisis. People who come together learn the importance of appreciating the value of neighbourly support, often act with greater community spirit in the aftermath of a disaster. | Even truckloads of goodwill can't offset the trauma of being floodedIndeed, unlike any other form of capital - social capital can actually increase at a time of crisis. People who come together learn the importance of appreciating the value of neighbourly support, often act with greater community spirit in the aftermath of a disaster. |
| All of us can help by encouraging the victims of the flood to look for solutions that will improve their lives instead of looking for someone to blame. Blaming often weakens social capital and undermines the return to "normalcy". | All of us can help by encouraging the victims of the flood to look for solutions that will improve their lives instead of looking for someone to blame. Blaming often weakens social capital and undermines the return to "normalcy". |
| Instead of looking for a hidden meaning behind the flood we ought to be focusing on learning the lessons. We now know that floods are normal part of our life. What we have to figure out is how much of our resources we are prepared to devote to minimising their destructive impact on our lives. | Instead of looking for a hidden meaning behind the flood we ought to be focusing on learning the lessons. We now know that floods are normal part of our life. What we have to figure out is how much of our resources we are prepared to devote to minimising their destructive impact on our lives. |
| Frank Furedi is professor of sociology at University of Kent. | Frank Furedi is professor of sociology at University of Kent. |
Add your comments on this story, using the form below. | Add your comments on this story, using the form below. |