Somerset Levels Floods CS

Question 1

Where is Somerset

Answer 1

County in south-west England

Question 2

What are the Somerset Levels

Answer 2

Extensive area of low-lying farmland and wetlands

Question 3

How is the Somerset Levels drained

Answer 3

By several rivers which flow to the Severn Esuary

Question 4

When was the Somerset floods

Answer 4

2014

Question 5

What caused the floods

Answer 5

-Wettest January since 1910
-350 mm of rain fell in January and February
-High tides and storm surges swept water up rivers
-Rivers had not been dredged for 20 years and were clogged with sediment

Question 6

Social impacts of the flood

Answer 6

-600 houses flooded
-16 farms evacuated
-Residents evacuated to temporary accommodation for several months
-Villages cut off (people’s daily lives disturbed)
Power supplies cut off

Question 7

Economic impacts of the flood

Answer 7

-Cost of flood damage was more than £10 million
-Over 14,000 ha of agricultural land under water for 4 weeks
-Over 1000 livestock evacuated
-Bristol to Taunton railway line closed

Question 8

Environmental impacts

Answer 8

-Floodwaters were heavily contaminated with sewage and other pollutants including oil and chemicals
-A huge amount of debris had to be cleared
-Stagnant water that had collected for months had to be reoxygenated before being pumped back into rivers

Question 9

Immediate responses

Answer 9

-Villagers used boats to get around

Question 10

Longer-term responses

Answer 10

-£20 million Flood Action Plan has been launched by Somerset County Council to work together with agencies to reduce future risk of flooding
-March 2014, 8km of rivers were dredged to increase capacity of river channel
-Road levels raised in places
-Vulnerable communities will have flood defences
-River banks raised and strengthened and pumping station will be built
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