Somerset Levels Floods - Ex Weather + Rivers Paper 1

Question 1

When were the Somerset floods?

Answer 1

2014

Question 2

Describe the location of Somerset

Answer 2

South-West England

Question 3

Describe the landscape of the Somerset Levels

Answer 3

Flat, low-lying land

Question 4

Give 3 factors which contributed to the 2014 flooding

Answer 4

Physical Causes
* Record prolonged, heavy rainfall (from a series of south-westerly depressions)
* High tides (so water couldn’t escape out to sea)

Human Causes
* Clogged rivers (left undredged for 20 years)

Question 5

How long had it been since the local rivers had been dredged?

Answer 5

20 years

Human Cause

Question 6

Why was there record rainfall in Somerset in Jan/Feb 2014?

Answer 6

A series of south-westerly depressions

Question 7

How many houses were flooded in the Somerset floods?

Answer 7

Over 600

Social Impact

Question 8

How many farms were evacuated in the Somerset floods?

Answer 8

16

Social and economic

Question 9

Give an environmental impact of the 2014 Somerset Floods

Answer 9

Contamination of floodwaters with sewage, oil and chemicals

Question 10

Give 3 long-term responses to the Somerset Floods

Answer 10

A 20 million pound Flood Action Plan was launched
8km of local rivers (Tone and Parrett) dredged
Road levels raised in the following months

Question 11

Give 2 social impacts of the Somerset Floods

Answer 11

Over 600 homes flooded, leaving possessions damaged and causing distress
Power supply, roads and railways cut off, leaving schools and workplaces unable to operate as usual

Question 12

Give 2 immediate responses to the Somerset 2014 Floods

Answer 12

Sandbags used to protect property
Boats used to evacuate but also deliver food to the stranded

Question 13

What was used to protect property as an immediate response to the Somerset floods?

Answer 13

Sandbags

Question 14

What was used to evacuate and deliver food to the stranded during the Somerset Floods?

Answer 14

Boats