Ann Brooks gave an interesting talk to over 30 members and visitors last Thursday on the subject of the Essex floods on the night of 31 January 1953. The freak weather event was caused by low pressure and wind which had caused the sinking of a ferry off the west coast of Scotland the previous day. The low pressure centre was thought to have been tracking eastwards, but instead turned south funneling the surge along the east coast. Weather forecasters did not anticipate the scale of the problem, and people went to bed unaware. Many communities suffered death and destruction, notably Canvey Island in Essex. Since then sea defences have been improved but whether they would be sufficient to prevent another disaster is questionable. What has improved since 1953 is the communications and better early warning.
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