Somerset Levels Floods

Question 1

where?

-background on area

Answer 1

2014 SW England

-river parret area prone to flooding as it’s flat

Question 2

Natural and human causes

Answer 2

Natural:
-prolonged heavy rain 2013 so saturated ground
Human:
-river parret not dredged for 20 yrs
-change in farming grassland used to grow maize so less able to retain

Question 3

3x primary impacts

Answer 3

• 600 homes flooded
• companies lost £1.2m
• 1,500 hectares of land flooded

Question 4

3x secondary impacts

Answer 4

• insurances prices soared
• loss of tourism cost £200 mil
• crime rates soared due to oil pumps being stolen

Question 5

immediate and long term responses

Answer 5

-Immediate:
-royal marines assist rescue mission
Long Term:
-march 2014 8km river parret and tone dredged
-£20 mill flood action plan

Question 6

Management Strategy before vs after

Answer 6

Before:
-warning systems from MET office
After:
-2o yr action plan w/ regular dredging of river parret and tone and widening river snowy’s channel