The list of the worst disasters that have befallen Great Britain is topped by the Black Death of 1347-50 when about 3.5 million died. The current Covid pandemic is placed sixth, behind the 1557 influenza outbreak, which claimed 200,000 lives.
The highest placed weather-related death toll is the great storm of 1703 when 8,000 were killed. Hurricane-force winds sank dozens of ships in the Channel and North Sea including a number of Royal Navy warships. Some vessels that did survive were driven hundreds of miles north and west before the sailors could regain control of their vessels.
There was loss of life on land too. People as well as thousands of farm animals drowned in extensive flooding in the West Country, and a large number of people were killed by falling trees, flying debris and chimney stacks falling through roofs.
It is hard to compare the ferocity of that storm with Eunice last week although both battered the southern half of the country worst of all. There was one crucial difference. In 1703 the wooden sailing ships were caught unawares at sea and unable to reach safety, and the Somerset Levels flooded without prior warning. Last week many lives were protected by accurate weather forecasting and early warnings.
