Beyond The Margin
The 1953 North Sea flood (Dutch: Watersnoodramp, literally "water emergency disaster") was a major flood caused by a heavy storm that occurred on the night of Saturday, 31 January 1953 and morning of Sunday, 1 February 1953. The floods struck the Netherlands, Belgium, England and Scotland. A combination of a high spring tide and a severe windstorm over the North Sea caused a storm tide; the combination of wind, high tide, and low pressure led to a water level of more than 5.6 metres above mean sea level. The waters overwhelmed sea defences and caused extensive flooding. 2,551 people drowned,along with 30,000 animals. 10,000 buildings were destroyed.
