(Level: Upper-Intermediate to Advanced / B2 to C1 / ****)
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| Aerial view of the Somerset Levels, February 2014 Photo credit: thetimes.co.uk |
The UK experienced a series of major storms between January and February 2014 which definitely left their mark in many parts of the country.
Strong winds, high tides and huge waves battered towns and villages on the coastline whereas severe flooding destroyed thousands of homes inland.
Last winter was considered the wettest one for almost 250 years. Now, six months later, families who were left devastated by the floods are still struggling to get their homes rebuilt or repaired and some of them have decided to go to great lengths so as to prevent a repeat of their ordeal in the future.
Last winter was considered the wettest one for almost 250 years. Now, six months later, families who were left devastated by the floods are still struggling to get their homes rebuilt or repaired and some of them have decided to go to great lengths so as to prevent a repeat of their ordeal in the future.
Sky News reporter Joe Tidy shows some of the steps people are taking to flood proof their properties.
You can also watch a previous report posted on 10 February 2014: Misery due to flooding and heavy storms continues. Click HERE
Before watching:
The following words could be useful:
to flood proof ( a home): to make (a home) resistant to flooding mettre ... à l'épreuve des inondations / protéger... des inondations
to be breached: to get a gap être entamé / ébréché / abîmé
to be left gutted: to be ravaged / devastated se retrouver dévasté / détruit
a steel girder framework: a structure made up of steel beams structure composée de poutres en acier
a jack: a device (mechanical or hydraulic) used to lift heavy weights vérin
a wreck: a building e.g. reduced to a ruin une ruine
to dredge (a river e.g.): to clean (and possibly deepen and widen) a river e.g. draguer
a bund: embankment / dyke / barrier mur de protection
a slope: a portion of ground which is inclined pente
a drop-off: a slope / a vertical descent pente / déclivité
to beef up: to make stronger / to strengthen renforcer
buoyant: able to float / able to keep something afloat flottant / flottable
skirtings: borders of wood e.g. fixed round the base of an interior wall bordures / plinthes
While watching:
Complete the chart in French:
What did the following families / people decide to do so as to not have their homes flooded again?
What was their ordeal like six months ago?
What is their situation like now?
The Ivry family
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Jane Scott (and her husband)
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Sam Noturo
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David Kidd
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What was it like for them when they
got flooded?
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What is their situation like now?
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NO ANSWER
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NO ANSWER
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What steps did they take to prevent
being flooded again?
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| Wraysbury Map credit: weather-forecast.com |
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| The Ivry family's home in Wraysbury Photo credit: news.sky.com |
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| Somerset Levels Map credit: commons. wikimedia.org |
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| Sam Notaro's house in Somerset Levels Photo credit : dailymail.co.uk |
You can also watch the report on the Sky News site: click HERE
When you are finished, you can check your answers.
The Ivry family
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Jane Scott (and her husband)
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Sam Noturo
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David Kidd
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What was it like for them when they
got flooded?
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En 15 ans, ils n’avaient jamais
vécu une telle situation mais ce jour-là, l’eau est montée très vite, s’est
engouffrée dans leur maison et a tout ravagé
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C’était terrible à voir; terrible de
voir l’eau monter et détruire les meubles et de ne rien pouvoir faire…
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Sa maison est la seule à avoir été
épargnée ; grâce, entre autres, à
un monticule de terre qu’il avait érigé tout autour de sa propriété
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Maison complètement inondée
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What is their situation like now?
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La famille occupe un logement
temporaire depuis 6 mois mais espère pouvoir réintégrer la maison en
septembre.
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La maison est toujours à l’état de « ruine » ;
plus de planchers ; plus de cage d’escaliers…
Ils vivent dans une caravane placée
dans leur jardin.
Ils doivent beaucoup négocier avec
les assurances et ça dure depuis des mois !
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NO ANSWER
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NO ANSWER
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What steps did they take to prevent
being flooded again?
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Projet colossal : procéder à
la surélévation de l’habitation à partir de sa base (à concurrence de 1m50)
en plaçant une structure de poutres en acier au travers de tout le
rez-de-chaussée qu’on fait lever à l’aide de vérins.
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Ils voudraient trouver une solution
adéquate pour leur habitation, notamment faire placer des matériaux offrant
une résilience aux inondations mais ne
savent pas vraiment quoi.
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Modifier le terrain tout autour de
sa maison en créant une déclivité (ou une pente / dénivellation) d’un mètre
de hauteur qui retiendrait les eaux en cas de nouvelle crue.
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Il a conçu un système de
flottabilité pour ses planchers en cas de crue (après avoir renforcé
considérablement le soubassement flottant) ; aucune plinthe donc dans
les pièces à planchers « mobiles »
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