Major North Sea Surge impacts Hemsby
The biggest North Sea surge since 1953 hit the East Anglian Coastline overnight on 5th December, resulting in flooding, loss of habitation and much damage to the homes at Hemsby Marrams, when the high tide brought in waves to further erode the dune foundations they were built on.
A deep barometric low off eastern Scotland was accompanied by a north-west gale gusting over 90 mph which came at the time of the high tide, the worst possible combination. (See ‘North Sea Surges’ at www.marinet.org.uk/campaign-article/north-sea-surges-2)
The loss of fronting beach, already denuded of twenty feet of sand cover due to the demand of the offshore pits created by a series of massive levels of aggregate dredging permitted the high seas and waves to reach the base of the marram dunes, the only defence from the sea in that area, causing the loss of over 8 metres of what was once a natural protective frontage. Five bungalows were destroyed, and more have yet to be lost as the current vertical dune face falls. The Hemsby lifeboat shed was another victim.
The only good news is that the resulting publicity, not just local but national and even international, has now brought the situation firmly to the eye of both the public and the government. Over 2,500 people have now joined the Facebook ‘Save Hemsby’s Coastline’ fighting the erosion and resultant damage and demanding defences.
Pictures taken following the event from the Daily Mail
All that remains of Hemsby Lifeboat housing
