After the flood: the health and social consequences of the 2005 Carlisle flood event

In this paper we consider the health and social impacts of the flooding caused to a number of Carlisle households following the January 2005 floods and storms. In so doing we consider such impacts from a ‘lived, local experience’ perspective. We reflect on the need for both informal support and locally accessible and ongoing, post-flood information and support centres. Such centres can provide one point of contact for potentially multiple, emotional and practical problems. Crucially we suggest that these centres require both strong multipartnership and multi-agency working and highly skilled support centre personnel who have local knowledge and understanding of the affected community. In this way, postdisaster local needs may be contextualized and responded to in a way that both draws on existing local knowledge and expertise and further strengthens long-term community-based support.