Somerset Flood

Question 1

Name 3 causes of the flood.

Answer 1

low pressure systems
topography
human activity

Question 2

How did low pressure systems contribute to the flood

Answer 2

• heavy rainfall due to 13 drepressions from the adlantic
• weeks of heavy rain (3x monthly avarage)
• wettest winter in over 200 years
• ground already saturated

Question 3

How did topography contribute to the flood?

Answer 3

• Somerset levels is 70,000km^2 of flat/low lying areas, only 8m above sea level
• River Parrett and Tone are very slow flowing
• River Parrett drainage basin is 1665km^2
• heavy silt deposits in the river reduce water capacity

Question 4

when was the Somerset levels

Answer 4

winter 2013/January 2014

Question 5

How did human activity contribute to the flood?

Answer 5

• marshes drained to create farmland in middle ages, resulting in shrinkage causing land to lower.
• changing farming practises mean grassland sponge has been replaced with cereal crops meaning infiltration rates have fallen.
• Meaning more surface run off

Question 6

what were the social impacts of the flood.

Answer 6

• 600 homes flooded
• crime rates rose
• schools and jobs affected
• people had to move out of their homes for a few years to rebuild them
• stress/mental health
• villages cut off

Question 7

what were the environmental impacts of the flood.

Answer 7

• habitats flooded/submerged for long period of time
• wildlife drowned/displaced
• Over 2 years for the ground to recover - some ground became toxic due to standing water
• reduced numbers of animals like barn owls

Question 8

what were some of the short term reponses to the flood

Answer 8

• high profile news story
• goverment offered £30 million relief funds
• FLAG - flood actions group established
• pumps upgraded
• royal marines brought in to help
• RSPCA led rescues for cattle and horses
• Enviromental agency installed 62 pumps working 24 hours a day to remove 1.5 million tonnes of water

Question 9

what were economic impacts of the flood

Answer 9

• £16million pounds of property damaged
• farmers had to move or sell their live stock
• insurance premiums went up by 5x
• house values fallen
• estimated cost to farmers £10 million

Question 10

what were some of the long term responses to the flood

Answer 10

• in March 2014 the goverment wrote a 20 year flood action plan
• dredging of the Rivers Tone and Parret costing £8 million
• permanent pumps installed
• raising roads into remote villages
• building of tidal barriers to hold tidal surges
• allowed some areas to return to wetlands
• encouraged farmer to invest in flood tolerant activities