somerset case study

Question 1

where is somerset

Answer 1

south west england

Question 2

what is the land around somerset used for

Answer 2

farmland/ wetland
low lying
extensive

Question 3

what are the rivers like around somerset

Answer 3

area is drained by rivers, e.g the tone and the parrett
natural flooding for years

Question 4

when were the somerset floods

Answer 4

2014

Question 5

4 social impacts

Answer 5

600 homes flooded
16 farms evacuated
residents evacuated to temp accommodations for several months
power supplies cut off

Question 6

4 economical impacts

Answer 6

• council estimated £10 million damage
• 14000 ha farmland underwater for 3-4 weeks
• local roads blocked by flood
• railway line to bristol closed

Question 7

3 environmental impacts

Answer 7

• water heavily contaminated with sewage and pollutants e.g chemicals
• huge amounts of debris
• stagnant water had to be collected and re oxygenated

Question 8

immediate response

Answer 8

boats to attend school
support from volunteers/community groups

Question 9

4 long term response

Answer 9

• march 2014 - 8km of roger tone & parrett dredges to increase capacity
• road level raised- maintain communication and business
• vulnerable comunities have defences
• river banks strengthened and more pumping stations

Question 10

what is dredging

Answer 10

when diggers or pumps remove silt and build it on the river banks to increase river capacity

Question 11

what caused floods with statistics

Answer 11

• wettest january since 1910 when records began. 350 mm rainfall, 10mm above avg
• high tides and storm surges, spill over
• rivers not dredged for 20 years, silt built up