Somerset Levels

Question 1

What caused the floods

Answer 1

Succession of depressions from the Atlantic.
350mm rain
Storm surges from River Tone and Parrat
Rivers had not been dredged For 20 years

Question 2

Immediate responses

Answer 2

Villages used boats to go to school/shop
Local community groups volunteered to give support

Question 3

Long term responses

Answer 3

£20 million flood action plan launched by the Somerset county council.
Road levels raised
More pumping stations
Vulnerable communities will have flood defences like the tidal barrage (by 2024)
Rivers dredged to increase capacity of rivers

Question 4

Social Impacts

Answer 4

600 houses flooded
16 farms evacuated
Power supplies cut off

Question 5

Economic impacts

Answer 5

Cost of £10 million
14,000 hectares of farmland flooded for 3-4 weeks
1000 livestock evacuated
Roads flooded

Question 6

Environmental impacts

Answer 6

Debris had to be cleared
Flood water contaminated with sewage
Stagnated water reoxygenated before released into rivers

Question 7

When

Answer 7

2014