Somerset Levels Flood Flashcards
What is the background of the Somerset floods?
A quick succession of prolonged Atlantic depressions brought 350mm of rain in January and February 2014, with gale-force winds. The rivers could no longer cope and the high tides in the Bristol Channel borrowed, creating tidal surges, preventing water from draining into the sea from the rivers, which had high sedimentation levels due to lack of dredging for 20 years.
What were the social impacts of the Somerset floods?
More than 60 homes flooded.
16 farms evacuated.
Residents required temporary accommodation for several months.
Some villages were cut off.
Power supplies were disrupted.
What were the environmental impacts of the Somerset floods?
River water was contaminated with sewage, oils and chemicals.
A large volume of debris was deposited across the Somerset Levels.
Stagnant water had to be reoxygenated and then pumped back into rivers.
What were the economic impacts of the Somerset floods?
Over 14,000 hectares of agricultural land flooded for months.
Over 1,000 livestock had to be evacuated from farms.
Roads were cut off.
Railway lines were closed.
It is estimated the flooding caused £10 million of damage.
How were the Somerset floods managed?
Pumping stations have been constructed.
River banks have been raised and straightened.
£20 million was pledged on a flood action plan by Somerset County Council.
Dredging occurred on the River Tone and Parratt in March 2014.
Road levels have been raised.
Flood defences have been constructed for communities at risk.
