Somerset levels

Question 1

What were the causes?

Answer 1

• Record rainfall in January and February
• Storm surges swept water up the Bristol channel
• Rivers were with sediment and had not been dredged in 20 years

Question 2

What were the immediate responses?

Answer 2

• Huge media interest
• villagers used boats for transport
• groups and volunteers gave invaluable support

Question 3

What were the social, economic and environmental impacts?

Answer 3

• over 600 houses were flooded
• villages cut off disrupting schools, work and shopping
• Estimated 10 million pounds of damage
• 14000 hectors of farms were farms were flooded, 1000 livestock evacuated
• Power supply, roads and railways cut off
• flood water was contaminated
• Massive debris clearance required

Question 4

What were the longer term responses

?

Answer 4

• 20 million pound plan was put in place
• 8Km of rivers dredged
• road levels raised
• Some communities will have flood defences
• River banks were raised and strengthened
• tidal barrage at Bridgewater