P2 Case study - Somerset levels

Question 1

Where is Somerset located?

Answer 1

Southwest of England, low lying land, has hills surrounding it, the quantops and mendips

Question 2

Name the rivers that surround Somerset

Answer 2

Axe, Brue ,tone, Parret

Question 3

When did they flood?

Answer 3

Dec 2013 - Jan 2014

Question 4

What is special about January

Answer 4

wettest month on record

Question 5

What were the causes of the flooding ?

Answer 5

Bad weather caused storm surges
100mm of rain more than average
The low lying land
20 years of not dredging the rivers

Question 6

What is dredging?

Answer 6

The removing of sediment from a river?

Question 7

What were the social impacts of the flood?

Answer 7

600 houses destroyed
Moorland cut of from everything around them
Transport links flooded
Power cables cut

Question 8

What were the economic impacts of the flood?

Answer 8

14,000 hectares of farm land flooded
Estimated £10m to repair damages
Transport links damaged

Question 9

What were the environmental impacts of the flood?

Answer 9

Death or displacement of animals
Floodwater harmed local habitats

Question 10

How did the government respond to the flood? (short term)

Answer 10

Told people to evacuate
Sent flood warnings
Built temporary flood defences
Dredging

Question 11

How did the government respond to the flood? (long term)

Answer 11

20 year plan (flood action plan)
Bridgewater tidal barrier (supposed to take 10 years , still building to this day