Somerset levels floods

Question 1

describe the location of the Somerset levels

when did they flood?

Answer 1

southwest of the UK
in the county of Somerset
flooded in 2014

Question 2

what were the causes of the Somerset levels flooding in 2014

Answer 2

human causes:
- river not dredged
(removing of silt from the river bed if not dredged, decreased carrying capacity)
- development of the floodplain
removing vegetation (interception)
trampling by livestock (infiltration)

physical causes

• wettest January on record
• several weeks of wet weather from successive depression
• high tides and storm surges

Question 3

what were the effects of the Somerset levels flooding in 2014

Answer 3

social effects

• 600 homes flooded
• 16 farms evacuated
• power cuts
• 0 deaths

economic effects

• roads cut off
• lack of availability to get to work

environmental effects

• floodwater contaminated with sewage, oils, chemicals
• stagnant water couldn’t be pumped back into rivers

Question 4

what were the responses to the Somerset levels flooding in 2014

Answer 4

• series of emergency pumps installed to pump floodwater off the land (primary response)
• concrete caps used raise height of the banks at the river Parratt (secondary response)
• debris clear up (primary response)
• evacuation of 600 homes (primary response)
• built flood wall to protect 20 homes (secondary response)
• dredged the river Parratt (secondary response)

Question 5

evaluate the responses to the Somerset levels flooding in 2014

Answer 5

the primary responses were evidently effective ad they made the number of deaths zero. but the secondary responses will need to be monitored and updated frequently due to climate change and more freak weather

Question 6

evaluate the effects/ impacts of the Somerset levels flooding in 2014

Answer 6

the economic effects are most significant as they shattered the local economy and caused many people unable to get to their jobs meaning they couldn’t’ get their wages which impacts their home life

Question 7

evaluate the causes of the Somerset levels flooding in 2014

Answer 7

the physical causes are more significant as if there wasn’t successive depressions which caused prolonged precipitation there would be no need to worry about rivers not being dredged as there wouldn’t be that excess water causing them to flood