paper 1 - somerset floods

Question 1

what are the somerset levels

Answer 1

an area of low lying land, coastal plains and wetlands located in the southwest of the uk county

Question 2

what are the two rivers called which flow through somerset and drain in the Bristol Channel

Answer 2

the river parrett and the river tone

Question 3

1 cause of the 2014 floods

Answer 3

• rain = a series of depressions of the Atlantic Ocean brought weeks of wet weather which caused the rivers to burst their banks onto the floodplains

Question 4

1 cause of the floods

Answer 4

• high tides = seawater levels were higher due to storm surges and high tides. this prevented fresh water being able to drain

Question 5

1 cause of the floods

Answer 5

dredging - rivers were full of sediment as they hasn’t been dredged in 20 years meaning less water could be held in the river

Question 6

social effects of the floods

Answer 6

• over 600 homes flooded
• residents were evacuated
• 16 farms were evacuated
• power supplies were cut off
• villages completely cut off

Question 7

economic effects of the floods

Answer 7

• cost of damage is over £10 million
• agricultural land got flooded limiting the produce which can be sold
• 1000 livestock had to be evacuated
• roads were cut off meaning people couldn’t go to work
• railway lines were closed

Question 8

environmental effects of the floods

Answer 8

• sewage, chemicals contaminated the water
• flooding destroyed ecosystems and limited food supplies for animals
• stagnant water was left deoxygenated after standing for months meaning It had to be deoxygenated

Question 9

immediate responses
warnings

Answer 9

• weather and flood warnings were released to warn residents
• at risk residents were contacted to evacuate
• monitoring river levels allowed for a proper judgment to be made on which areas were at risk

Question 10

immediate responses
temporary flood defenses

Answer 10

• barriers and sandbags were used to control flood water
• residents moved valuable items upstairs away from the flood water risk

Question 11

long term responses

Answer 11

a 20 year plan was produced in aims to reduce the risk of future flooding through management of the river and somerset area

Question 12

what is the aim and progress so far of dredging

Answer 12

aim = dredge 8km of the tow rivers to increase the capacity and reduce the banks bursting
progress so far = 4km of each river has been dredged and maintenance dredging happens every year since

Question 13

what is the aim and progress so far of drain enhancements

Answer 13

aim = develop better drainage to reduce costs of equipment in future floods
progress = culverts have been aded to main roads and roads have been raised

Question 14

what is the aim and progress so far of bridge water tidal barrage

Answer 14

aims = stop high tides
progress = on track to be finished by 2024, barrier would protect thousands of homes and businesses

Question 15

what is the aim and progress so far of somerset rivers authority

Answer 15

aims = establish an authority which is responsibly for effective river management on the levels
progress = in 2015 It was launched, works to maintain and improve river

Question 16

what is the aim and progress so far of urban water management

Answer 16

aims = better management of urban run off and implantation of sustainable drainage systems
progress = a review into 20 urban sites has been conducted, guidance given to new urban owners to ensure developments are sustainable

Question 17

what is the aim and progress so far of increased resilience

Answer 17

aim = sustain and enhance community resilience
progress = free training to help people learn how to prepare and deal with a flood