Case Study: Somerset Levels Floods

Question 1

Somerset levels floods: Date

Answer 1

January and February of 2014

Question 2

Somerset levels floods: Scale

Answer 2

10% of the levels flooded

Question 3

Somerset levels floods: Location

Answer 3

Somerset Levels, between Yeovil, Glastonbury & Taunton

Question 4

Somerset levels floods: Cause

Answer 4

Record-high rainfall, poor river management

Question 5

Somerset levels floods: GDP/c

Answer 5

~$43000

Question 6

Somerset levels floods: Primary effects

Answer 6

600+ houses flooded

£10 million of damage

16 farms evacuated

14000 hectares of agricultural land submerged

Question 7

Somerset levels floods: Secondary effects

Answer 7

Flood water polluted with waste

1000 cows evacuated

Bristol-Taunton Railways closed

Villages cut of from schools and shops

Water became deoxygenated and had to be reoxygenated before it could be returned to the river

Question 8

Somerset levels floods: Immediate responses

Answer 8

Evacuation of people from flooded area

Affected people helped by community groups and volunteers

Villagers used boats to get to schools and shops

Question 9

Somerset levels floods:

Answer 9

£20 million Flood Action Plan from the Environment Agency and Somerset County Council

8km of river dredged

River banks raised and more pumping station built

Possibility of a tidal barrage in bridgewater to be decided in 2024