Somerset Flooding
- County is South West England
- Area drained by several rivers
Causes
- Succession of depressions (low pressure) driven across Atlantic Oceans
- 350 mm of rain fell in January & February (100 mm above average)
- High tides & storm surges pushed water up rivers
- Preventing water reaching sea
- Rivers not dredged for 20 years
- Clogged with sediment
Impacts
Economic:
- Damage = over £10 million
- 14,000 ha of agriculture land underwater for a month
- Railway line closed
Social Effects:
- 600 houses flooded
- Temporary accomodation for months
- Power supplies cut off
- Villages cut off
- Affects schools & shopping
Environmental Effects:
- Flood water heavily contaminated (sewage, oil, pollutants)
- Lots of debris to be cleared
Responses
- County is South West England
- Area drained by several rivers
Causes
- Succession of depressions (low pressure) driven across Atlantic Oceans
- 350 mm of rain fell in January & February (100 mm above average)
- High tides & storm surges pushed water up rivers
- Preventing water reaching sea
- Rivers not dredged for 20 years
- Clogged with sediment
Impacts
Economic:
- Damage = over £10 million
- 14,000 ha of agriculture land underwater for a month
- Railway line closed
Social Effects:
- 600 houses flooded
- Temporary accomodation for months
- Power supplies cut off
- Villages cut off
- Affects schools & shopping
Environmental Effects:
- Flood water heavily contaminated (sewage, oil, pollutants)
- Lots of debris to be cleared
Responses
