Although it was more physical causes than human that made the Boscastle Flood so devastating, humans did increase the chances of something like this happening.
First of all, Boscastle had no flood control system. No raised banks or ditches that would catch emergency water were constructed to help out. This would have meant that the flood would not have been able to damage the area so quickly, and maybe rescue services would have had more time to get there and prepare. This would mean that the final result would not be so devastating.
Another thing is that the site of Boscastle is a flood plain. Humans should never build on flood plains! Of course Boscastle would be flooded some time, but its just tempting fate to build a settlement there and not be totally prepared for a flood.
Also, there were some obstructions (such as the bridge in the centre) which cars, plants, and debris would get stuck in. This meant that the build up of water surrounding it would be huge! Water there would have to flow around the sides of the bridge, harming even more properties than it would have otherwise.
